bow pulpit

[seacolt]

I would like to add A bow pulpit to my boat , its A 1976 46c. I am in the begining stages of a complete paint job, one of the things I'm going to add is new bow rails, so this would be the time to incorporate A new pulpit. Anyone know where I might find one that will fit my boat. thanks

 

[J's Dream]

Call Tom Slane, he can build one for you...and it's pretty reasonable for what you get. www.slanemarine.com

 

[Kathy L]

I just but a Slane pulpit on the Kathy L. Easy job. Now's the time to do it, not after paint like I did!!

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

I had a old couple stop and talk to me about 2 years ago as I was varnishing my pulpit and he asked me about it. They have a 42' Grand Banks and have been full time cruising for over 20 years now.
He asked me why I didn't have a metal plate/bracket under the pulpit for added strength. Their boat was originally set up like mine but they had the pulpit snap one night during a storm.
I went over and saw they had extra support now built into the pulpit and it seems to make sense when you think about it. It extended out about 18" under the pulpit and extends down at the bo 6"-10" and was thru bolted with 4 bolts into the anchor locker that had a large backing plate.
Anyone here done something like this to theirs??????

 

[egaito]

I had a old couple stop and talk to me about 2 years ago as I was varnishing my pulpit and he asked me about it. They have a 42' Grand Banks and have been full time cruising for over 20 years now.
He asked me why I didn't have a metal plate/bracket under the pulpit for added strength. Their boat was originally set up like mine but they had the pulpit snap one night during a storm.
I went over and saw they had extra support now built into the pulpit and it seems to make sense when you think about it. It extended out about 18" under the pulpit and extends down at the bo 6"-10" and was thru bolted with 4 bolts into the anchor locker that had a large backing plate.
Anyone here done something like this to theirs??????

I don't have the support that runs down to the bow, but there is a backing plate of about 3/8" aluminum, the size of the pulpit above it in the anchor locker. I snapped a 5000 lb strap with it trying to get my anchor back from a tree, or maybe it was a building....but it didn't budge.

 

[REBrueckner]

A rigid piece of metal, preferably SS, which forms a triangle beneath the pulpit, connected from the pulpit to the bow, is one reinforcement method. Another is to place a large "U" channel atop the bow pulpit. This not only reinforces the pulpit but contains the anchor chain and any crud falling off. A number of the high end new boats in the 30 to 40 ft range have rather massive stainless affairs which appear almost custom built at the bow and you can get additional ideas from them. A piece of perhaps 3/4" or 1" diam SS rail material would do as it's incredibly strong in compression mode.

I made my pulpit from three layers of 3/4" marine plywood epoxied together. It holds a Danforth T4000 or Delta Fastset of 55 lbs. It's held in 70 mph winds for brief periods, but it does bend a bit when straining to get an anchor out under power which I did not expect. If I were starting from scratch, I'd add a single piece "U" shaped stainless the full four foot length, thru bolted at the deck (aft end) and to the platform its length. Maybe 3 or four inches wide, edges perhaps two inches high, and about 1/4" or 5/15" inch thick metal. Right now I have an anchor arm bolted at the end, maybe 24 inches long and a second "U" shaped SS channel between the anchor arm and windlass to hold any mud/crude in place.

 

[egaito]

The thread got me thinking about the boat that broadsided Sanctuary a few months ago....that pulpit was wooden, kind of a butcher-block lamination of mahogony or something, with stainless bars running through it. When they hit us, the pulpit broke off the boat, and it was the metal that gouged the hullsides, before it bent over as well. It was a pretty big sailboat with a good head of steam when she hit, so I'd rate the pulpit as pretty strong even though it gave in the collision.

 

[Boss Lady]

The original fiberglass pulpit has a stainless steel anchor chute with a stainless roller. there are three different sizes for the anchor chute depending upon which length boat you have. I got my pulpit from Tom Slane, he can make which ever one you need. I think that Sam's carries the anchor chutes. I like the original, although I have seen a variety of different homemade pulpits. Just remember that there are tremendous forces at work if you choose to use something else.

 

[seacolt]

I think i'll call slane.. thanks

 

[REBrueckner]

Another consideration: When I made my pulpit, I included 1/2 copper tubing (for chain washdown during anchor retrevial) inside by laminating around it, filling void space with epoxy paste. An elbow provided down put tubing into the rope locker for water connection via hose. I added a salt water washdown pump, switch at each helm, and the system accomplishes two things: (1) Gets most mud and gunk off the chain as it raised, (2) Looks really cool, or at least unusual, because not many boats stream water off the bow when retrieving an anchor, so lots of people look and try to figure out where the water is coming from.

Obstacles: (a) It took some trial and error to get a wide spray pattern to get chain angled either port of stbd. I finally crimped the tubing flat with a vice grip after trying various hose nozzles, (b) It's impossible to keep salt water spray off the front deck on windy days without turning stern to the wind. (c) I sometimes forget to shut the water pump off. I need to add a red "on" lamp at each helm!!! Or wake up.

 

[Boss Lady]

I like the idea about the anchor chain wash down, I just may have to add that one.