Installing Lifelines on a 1981 Compac 16

[Jason]

Hi

Stern rails and stanchions were ordered from Hutchins.  They sent me 4 stanchions and I only used 2.  If someone wants the other two, let me know.

Jason

[wordnut]

Your boat looks so PURPOSEFUL. Great improvement.

[skip1930]

" PS - Wow - that is a huge ship over your shoulder! "

That old ship is a converted barge with a VEE cut in the stern and a new tug to push it.

BayShip is converting several old [oldest 100+ years old] freighters into barges.

This is done to circumvent the UNIONS.
Barges with tugs take 1/2 the number of crew saving the company money and improving the bottom line.

skip.

[JTMeissner]

I asked Jason about how he installed lifelines as I had some on order from Hutchins after I visited the factory a while ago (thanks for posting the pictures, Jason).  While digging around the boat I found a litany of other issues, and had to quit looking or I would never get the rails and stanchions installed.  Then the brakes in the truck decided this morning's commute was the time to quit...  Back to the boat:

In the driveway getting the overhaul.


Rails were placed near where Jason said he put his, holes drilled and countersunk.



Instead of 5200, I decided to try out butyl tape.



Without a partner outside the boat, tightening the bolts required a lot of in-and-outs.


This also required removing some of the sprayed-in foam to access the bolts on the edges.


After squeezing out the butyl, it was easy to remove (I used the sharp point of a multimeter lead).


Stanchions went in the same way, though much easier to access from inside.  I shifted them a few inches forward of where Jason placed his.


Some of the end results.



I don't have the lifelines cut yet, but ran some rope to see how it may look.


I'll address some of the issues discovered in another post.  Again I'd like to thank Jason for his notes and post to follow, as well as the rest of this forum.  The bolts run a little long in the cabin, so I may re-work with a wood/starboard backing plate and cover the ends with acorn nuts (the kids play in the cabin and can hit the exposed bolts) or simply buy shorter bolts and replace.  It's always something, isn't it?

-Justin

[capt_nemo]

Justin,

Run a SECOND NUT up on those ALREADY installed "too long" bolts.

Cut bolt off flush at nut bottom with hacksaw or Dremel cutter.

Remove that SECOND NUT used to preserve threads.

Install either rubber covers or acorn nuts on the SHORTER bolt ends.

Now the kids won't draw blood when their bodies hit those bolt ends.

capt. nemo

[kickingbug1]

    do remember what  the stern rails cost and what the item # was? they look great and should help someone boarding from the stern.

[JTMeissner]

kick, the parts numbers are from the 2010 list, but the price has dropped.  Discount for visiting the factory? 

RA00S0055     SS STANCHION 16 - 14" (SET OF 2)     $45 each, $90     (listed at $146.65/pair on the parts list)

RA00S0065     SS STERNRAIL - 16     $209.37     (listed at $240)

It took a couple weeks to manufacture and I paid $21.80 for shipping.

-Justin