What may have caused this??

[lakelandterrier]

Went to wrap up the boat for winter last weekend and notices the helm backrest has been quite severely bent back.

I'm sure it was undamaged last time we went out and boat has been sitting inthe yard under its cover since - no damage anywhere else.

so
1) what could have caused this - must have been a lot of force

2) how easy will it be to repair? The fixings to the pod look OK -is it "just" a matter of straightening the tubing?

I'm confused by this one

LT

[kerny]

Look's to me like it's been done while you were last out. Who was out with you and were they stood at the back holding on etc, I don't think that it has been done any other way. You could try and take it off and straighten it out but the tubing's probably weakened so it would bend again. I'm sure some steel fabricators like martini on here can give you some better advice.

[oracle]

Is it secured at the bottom, can't see a fixing in the photo. It hasn't just pivoted on the bolt has it?

[lakelandterrier]

Thanks Kerny,
the only person who sits behind me is my 7 year old daughter. I would hope the S/S is stronger than to bend at the pull of a child. She was siitting on the rear jockey, feet on the footblocks I've made, and holding on - not standing with lots of weight on the handhold

Also the last time out was flat calm. If I'd had a heavy crew member behind me in heavy seas I could possibly understand it.

[Jizm]

I looks bent to me rather than pivoted....

Slight curve evident above top fixing....

[lakelandterrier]

Fixings are fine - its a 3 point fixing - 2 bolts one side, one the other. It's the tubing that's bent.

[Jizm]

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

Fixings are fine - its a 3 point fixing - 2 bolts one side, one the other. It's the tubing that's bent.

your daughter is stronger than you thought.

[lakelandterrier]

"your daughter is stronger than you thought."

I know she's strong but not that strong (I hope - well she's not done any damge like that anywhere that I've found!)

Seriously what sort of force would cause that damage?

[willk]

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

Seriously what sort of force would cause that damage?

Obviously that depends on the grade of SS used. There is a LOT of leverage available to multiply force on that fitting. The fact that the GRP didn't get damaged suggests that the forces weren't enormous? You could try a pull on the top of the navigators seat and see what happens - if it bends, you know you're changing all four anyway

[kerny]

Like willk says looking at the pics there seems to be a lot of leverage from the fixing position up to the backrest and although your daughter is only 7 if she is say,, 5 stone, that's 70lbs so when accelerating that can still put a lot of stress on the backrest. I'm not saying that is the cause, but just looking at all the possibilities. I don't know how old your rib is but it is a ribcraft according to your profile and I would have thought that there fixings would be of good quality.