What may have caused this??

lakelandterrier · 26 November 2011, 10:20

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 · 26 November 2011, 11:10

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 · 26 November 2011, 12:50

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 · 26 November 2011, 12:53

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 · 26 November 2011, 12:53

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

Slight curve evident above top fixing....

lakelandterrier · 26 November 2011, 12:56

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

Jizm · 26 November 2011, 12:57

Quote:

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 · 26 November 2011, 13:05

"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 · 26 November 2011, 13:35

Quote:

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 · 26 November 2011, 14:47

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.

willk · 26 November 2011, 14:52

I was thinking more along the lines of not blaming the pups and asking the big dog did he "rest" his posterior on it...

Poly · 26 November 2011, 15:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

I was thinking more along the lines of not blaming the pups and asking the big dog did he "rest" his posterior on it...

or has the boat ever been tied up to the back of the seat - I've seen people doing this to keep the ropes off the tubes. Its hard to imagine a way that that sort of damage could happen in storage with a cover on - without causing other damage to the cover or boat.

wavelength · 26 November 2011, 15:33

Quote:

of not blaming the pups and asking the big dog

exactly...just leaning back whilst holding the wheel for a bit of a stretch p'raps!

lakelandterrier · 26 November 2011, 16:47

The Big Dog's not that big - despiet my bushy tail!!As I say the last time we were out it was flat calm and I'm not in the habit of leaning hard back against the backrest.

If we'd been out in some really rough weather with lots of slamming about I could possibly understand it, but the fitting should be strong enough to take expected forces in rough weather.

As I say she was fine when last put away. Could someone hace done this by pulling themselve aboard fromm the tailer - maybe to have a shufti through the pods / console (all of which I keep empty)?

The boat's only a year old.

Is it reapairable or do I need a new backrest fitting?

spartacus · 26 November 2011, 20:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by lakelandterrier

Is it reapairable or do I need a new backrest fitting?

It's repairable. I personally would remove from the seat pod to straighten. Place on a block of wood and use moderate force and lean into it. Check for creases in the stainless-steel. If you're in any doubt - I'd replace.

biffer · 27 November 2011, 07:35

It will repair easy but it's happened once it will happen again. Most stainless guys use 1.5mm wall tube and it's getting difficult to get thicker stuff
The trend for those type of backrest is to use 32 instead of 25 mm
You're hoop looks flat across the top so the 32 mm former radius can cope with that width of backrest

sent from a remote device

BrAinZ · 27 November 2011, 20:07

I think with anything like this, it might only become noticeable when you actually notice it. Might have happened a couple of trips ago?. It's funny how your eyes see things, but don't really SEE them

redthunder · 27 November 2011, 20:58

They do bend very easily. Most the ribs I have owned have seat rests that have bent or broke at some point there is to much leverage and not enough support. They need another angle of support.

Burtox · 28 November 2011, 11:55

Well I was going to say you should of bought a Ribcraft but it seems you have!!

I've got a 10 year old ribcraft with the same backrest and I haven't had any problem as I really give the boat a good beating

.

It may be worth sending the photo to Ribcraft and seeing whether they can comment to whether there was a batch that suffered from this failure. It may of been an inferior batch of tube.

If you bend it straight, it will probably happen again. Try Ribcraft as I have always found then very helpful.

Tino · 28 November 2011, 12:54

I guess someone tied a spring to your seat back.. any sort of a slop will bend SS. I have seen a seat on a Lencraft pulled right off the deck by a spring tied to the seat back!