Bow Eye install

[Dmksails]

Hi All -

The manual has the bow eye getting installed at the very end of the build. I'm getting ready to install the side panels and I'm wondering if now might be a good time to do the bow eye while I have clear access to the bow. It's kinda hard to tell, but from the manual it appears that the bow eye is install at the top of the hull panel, or maybe a bit higher into the side panels.

Doing it now, of even after the side panels are up, would make it much easier to drill - fill - drill the holes. I would also like to beef this up a bit by glassing in a wood block to provide more support.

Suggestions?

Bow.jpg (99.92 KiB) Viewed 6557 times

[dbeck]

Dave,

we have prepared the installation of the bow eye prior filling the space between bulkheads 1+2 with hard foam
- a block of wood was prepared to fit into the bow and glued in with lots of thickened epoxy
- several layers of thicker glass tape went on top of it
- the holes were drilled from the outside, we had 8mm bolts but the holes for the bolts are considerably larger (9mm, I believe) to allow some 'play'.
Then we filled the section between BH #1+2 with hard foam including a 'tunnel'. This tunnel was required much later for the final installation, to fix everything with washers and bolts from the inside.

We installed the bow eye a few days before the first launch. We just covered the inside of the holes with several layers of epoxy. We did not do Drill-Fill-Drill at this spot exceptionally. Why? We were afraid of cracks in the 'fill' through which water might intrude into the bow section. Instead we wanted something more flexible and black marine sealant was used: On the screws and inside the holes, at the outside and below the washers at the inside.

This seems to work out very well, but this is just our second sailing season. The photo below shows a trial fit of the bow eye after drilling the holes.

Dietrich

2023-01-09_17-03-02.jpg (124.01 KiB) Viewed 6495 times

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Hi All -

The manual has the bow eye getting installed at the very end of the build. I'm getting ready to install the side panels and I'm wondering if now might be a good time to do the bow eye while I have clear access to the bow. It's kinda hard to tell, but from the manual it appears that the bow eye is install at the top of the hull panel, or maybe a bit higher into the side panels.

The attachment Bow.jpg is no longer available

One issue is that the exterior of hull is normally glassed after it is flipped, and you definitely don't want to leave a gap in the glass (especially in the reinforcing tape along the stem) where
the eye goes.

Also, I recommend installing a drain plug at the very bottom of bulkhead 1, and trying to fill in any space ahead of the bulkhead and below the level of the plug.
Towards the end of our first season of sailing, I opened that plug and some seawater came out. I realized that my sealing job around the bow eye was not as good as I thought.
I had to remove it and reinstall it with better caulking. I was very glad I had access to the nuts that held the eye in place - since I had successfully installed the eye in the assembled boat, I
know I would be able to remove and re-install it.

BTW, I used "Loctite PL Marine Fast Cure" for caulking the eyebolt and sealing the companionway hood to the cabin roof, and I am happy with it. It is very strong, dries fast, and Lowe's carries it.


Lastly, after my first season I installed a second eye at the bow just for the bobstay. Now I can leave it attached all the time:

bobstay2.jpg (196.54 KiB) Viewed 6266 times

[dbeck]

One issue is that the exterior of hull is normally glassed after it is flipped, and you definitely don't want to leave a gap in the glass (especially in the reinforcing tape along the stem) where
the eye goes.

We drilled the holes prior the hull was flipped, glassed and painted. After glassing, it was still possible to see the position of the holes and to re-open / re-drill through the glass to the original diameter. The final installation was done shortly prior the first launch. The sealant proposed in the manual is not sold to private end-users here in Europe and we had to use another product (Bostik Simson CA). From time to time I check that the nuts the bolts inside the compartment are still tight (through the inspection port) and check for water through the drain plug. Not a single drop yet.

[Dmksails]

Thanks for the great advice. That idea of a second eye dedicated to the bowsprit is interesting!

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Thanks for the great advice. That idea of a second eye dedicated to the bowsprit is interesting!

More than once I had raised the mast, only to realize that I had forgotten to fasten the bobstay. Heading out with the bobstay
unattached could lead to disaster...

Doug

[Dmksails]

Doug - how far above the bow eye did you place the bowsprit eye?

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Doug - how far above the bow eye did you place the bowsprit eye?

Just far enough to leave enough space for the trailer's bow roller. I had to hack away an inch or two of the flotation styrofoam
to be able to bolt it in place from behind.