crossbeam repair

[tunnelvision]

I'm purchasing a cat that has a small dent and crack in the crossbeam. I'm looking for advice on repairing it. The crack is about 6" long. The boat is in BVI any ideas?

[Cheechako]

Drill small holes at the end of the crack, have it welded up. Then sister over the whole area with a formed aluminum plate, structural adhesive and rivets.

[2Hulls]

Ditto the small holes - right away, even if further repair will be delayed. The small holes will decrease the stress risers at the ends of the tears and minimize the potential for the tears increasing.

Dave

[admiralslater]

It takes a lot of force to do that damage. How are the mounting brackets

[Jeannius]

Do what the others have said, then put an identical plate in the same place on the other side. Make it look like a design feature, not a repair.

[waikikin]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Drill small holes at the end of the crack, have it welded up. Then sister over the whole area with a formed aluminum plate, structural adhesive and rivets.

I'd go for all of this except the welding, a new beam would be the best repair.

Jeff

[ozskipper]

Originally Posted by waikikin

I'd go for all of this except the welding, a new beam would be the best repair.

Jeff

I agree with the new beam. Its not that expensive compared to losing a rig. Plus it wont devalue the boat.

[waikikin]

Originally Posted by ozskipper

I agree with the new beam. Its not that expensive compared to losing a rig. Plus it wont devalue the boat.

Some years back some joker smacked his yacht into the rear alu connective beam on my Beach Marine PC10, bow roller fitting cleaved a tear in it, cost a few thousand to replace, never left a note either...................

[Rapanui]

I had a Sailcraft Iroquois that had a big dent in the same postion but no crack. I monel riveted an aluminium patch over bonded down with Sikaflex, taking care to stagger the rivet holes. Its still going strong 15 years later.

The cross beam is just a strut that holds the two bows apart and should not take any bending load. The rigging load is taken by the seagull striker stay of which the vertical component is taken by the 2 bows and the horizontal component tries to compress the cross beam.

I would be unconcerned about the beam failing and would probably get the crack welded up as mentioned and then address the cosmetics by covering it and the opposite side with patches. Now I would get 2 pieces aluminium formed to the exact curve, anodised the same colour and stuck down with Sikaflex or similar. Take photos, as when you come to sell the boat the puchaser or his surveyor should spot it and want reassurance.

[tunnelvision]

Thanks for all the replies! We will be getting it repaired as suggested.