My 1979 CD28 Sail, hull no. 228, has experienced massive corrosion/rust in the steel backing plate that is fiberglassed into the stemhead. The plate backs up the area that supports the bowsprit which in turn supports the forestay, pretty important stuff! I discovered this doing a thorough cleanup, removing the anchor rode and really getting into the locker which provides access to the backup plate. I removed several pounds of flaky rust pieces! I guess it's obvious that I haven't done this thorough a cleanup in a long time. The boat was surveyed three years ago without mention of the above condition.
I am th original owner of this boat and have sailed her extensively in the Chesapeake Bay. She is normally kept in the water year round.
I'd like to hear other owners' experiences with like conditions - and repair suggestions. Also any suggestions about bowsprit replacement; I've let mine get rotten looking though it seems to be structurally OK. Maybe I need to reconstruct the whole stemhead area. Help!
bobcahn@crosslink.net
Massive Stemhead Corrosion on CD28
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Warren Kaplan
Re: Massive Stemhead Corrosion on CD28
Bob,
Can't help you with the backing plate problem, but if you look on the main page of CCDO board you'll see a "Where to Look" icon. Click onto it and then click on "parts". Ocean Engineering has bowsprits for original Cape Dory boats. I have to replace the bowsprit on my CD27 after this season. I think I'd better crawl into the chain locker and get a look at my stem head backing plate too as I never even thought to look at it.
Warren
Setsail728@aol.com
Can't help you with the backing plate problem, but if you look on the main page of CCDO board you'll see a "Where to Look" icon. Click onto it and then click on "parts". Ocean Engineering has bowsprits for original Cape Dory boats. I have to replace the bowsprit on my CD27 after this season. I think I'd better crawl into the chain locker and get a look at my stem head backing plate too as I never even thought to look at it.
Warren
Setsail728@aol.com
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Larry DeMers
Re: Massive Stemhead Corrosion on CD28
This backing plate has been talked about previously, and should be found in the archives. As Irecall, the best solution I read about was one owner cutting out the old plate by grinding out the old fiberglass webbing that secures it in place..a non-trivial job. He then had a plate of Stainless or bronze..not sure which was used, nor which would be better (crevice corrosion in the stainless?)made and then reattached it to the same location.
My CD30 has been in fresh water all it's life, and even my boats backing plate has lost it's paint in large curles. Not penetrating rust, but it will get a coat of rustoleum to be certain.
Your bowsprit must be oak or ash, not teak, since you report that it is looking rotten in some places. This piece would be fairly easy to replicate if you wanted to. Mine is a lamination of several teak layers, glued together, and then a horizontal through bolt is used to hold it in place. This topic was also discussed earlier in the year I believe, so use the search engine and see what pops up.
Cheers!
Lary DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30
demers@sgi.com
My CD30 has been in fresh water all it's life, and even my boats backing plate has lost it's paint in large curles. Not penetrating rust, but it will get a coat of rustoleum to be certain.
Your bowsprit must be oak or ash, not teak, since you report that it is looking rotten in some places. This piece would be fairly easy to replicate if you wanted to. Mine is a lamination of several teak layers, glued together, and then a horizontal through bolt is used to hold it in place. This topic was also discussed earlier in the year I believe, so use the search engine and see what pops up.
Cheers!
Lary DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30
Bob Cahn wrote: My 1979 CD28 Sail, hull no. 228, has experienced massive corrosion/rust in the steel backing plate that is fiberglassed into the stemhead. The plate backs up the area that supports the bowsprit which in turn supports the forestay, pretty important stuff! I discovered this doing a thorough cleanup, removing the anchor rode and really getting into the locker which provides access to the backup plate. I removed several pounds of flaky rust pieces! I guess it's obvious that I haven't done this thorough a cleanup in a long time. The boat was surveyed three years ago without mention of the above condition.
I am th original owner of this boat and have sailed her extensively in the Chesapeake Bay. She is normally kept in the water year round.
I'd like to hear other owners' experiences with like conditions - and repair suggestions. Also any suggestions about bowsprit replacement; I've let mine get rotten looking though it seems to be structurally OK. Maybe I need to reconstruct the whole stemhead area. Help!
demers@sgi.com
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Ken Cave
Re: Massive Stemhead Corrosion on CD28
I own #227 Cape Dory 28, and have found some rust in the same place.
I scraped it down, then applied Hammerite which comes in a spray can as well as as regular paint. As I have used this product on a Catalina 25 before as a quick fix on a swing keel, I have found this product to be one of the best. If you use the spray can, be sure to use a mask as it pretty nasty stuff!
As far as the wood is concerned, I also have some dry rot that I carefully removed, and sealed it with GitRot, then made up a mixture of epoxy and stuffed it in the hole, then painted it to make it look like it was never there. So far, after three months of wet (and I mean really wet!) it seems to be holding up well.
Hope this helps!
Ken Cave
Dragon Tale
bcavd@whidbey.net
I scraped it down, then applied Hammerite which comes in a spray can as well as as regular paint. As I have used this product on a Catalina 25 before as a quick fix on a swing keel, I have found this product to be one of the best. If you use the spray can, be sure to use a mask as it pretty nasty stuff!
As far as the wood is concerned, I also have some dry rot that I carefully removed, and sealed it with GitRot, then made up a mixture of epoxy and stuffed it in the hole, then painted it to make it look like it was never there. So far, after three months of wet (and I mean really wet!) it seems to be holding up well.
Hope this helps!
Ken Cave
Dragon Tale
bcavd@whidbey.net
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Warren Kaplan
OOPS!!
OOPS,Warren Kaplan wrote: Bob,
Can't help you with the backing plate problem, but if you look on the main page of CCDO board you'll see a "Where to Look" icon. Click onto it and then click on "parts". Ocean Engineering has bowsprits for original Cape Dory boats. I have to replace the bowsprit on my CD27 after this season. I think I'd better crawl into the chain locker and get a look at my stem head backing plate too as I never even thought to look at it.
Warren
Sorry about this post. You said "bowsprit" and I thought "bowrail or bow pulpit". I'll chalk it up to the ravages of age.
Warren
Setsail728@aol.com
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Russ Campbell
Re: Massive Stemhead Corrosion on CD28
Bob, I had exactly your problem a couple of years ago and I replaced both the bowsprit and the backing plate. I have posted many articles on this web site about it if you want to search the archives or if you want to e-mail me I will be glad to offer whatever assistance I can. I even have some pictures I took of the job I can send. Fair winds
Russ
camroll@together.net
Russ
Bob Cahn wrote: My 1979 CD28 Sail, hull no. 228, has experienced massive corrosion/rust in the steel backing plate that is fiberglassed into the stemhead. The plate backs up the area that supports the bowsprit which in turn supports the forestay, pretty important stuff! I discovered this doing a thorough cleanup, removing the anchor rode and really getting into the locker which provides access to the backup plate. I removed several pounds of flaky rust pieces! I guess it's obvious that I haven't done this thorough a cleanup in a long time. The boat was surveyed three years ago without mention of the above condition.
I am th original owner of this boat and have sailed her extensively in the Chesapeake Bay. She is normally kept in the water year round.
I'd like to hear other owners' experiences with like conditions - and repair suggestions. Also any suggestions about bowsprit replacement; I've let mine get rotten looking though it seems to be structurally OK. Maybe I need to reconstruct the whole stemhead area. Help!
camroll@together.net