Bow Eye Replacment and Relocation.

[TheKid]

So now I have a busted bow eye. It was slightly suspect for some time and finally bit the bullet loading on a shallow ramp.

Any way. the question is, can I relocate it higher up 2-3"? reason being is it is located right at the level of the anchor locker bottom. I really don't want to have to rip all that out just to replace this.

The thought would be to fill the existing holes and create new ones with better access.

It would still be in between bow rollers and actually make it easier to launch as it currently hangs up every time, probably contributing to its demise.

What do you think?  Of course this would be predicated on the ability to fill existing holes with out to much work.

[wingtime]

Does the bow eye attach to a lifting ring on your deck?    That would be one thing to consider.    Also the hull is usually beefed up where the bow eye attaches.  So if you move it up you may have to glass in some wood or something to reinforce the area and spread out the load.  Other tan that it should be no big deal.

[gran398]

Good thinking wt.

Main thing to me would be how and where it fits on the trailer with relation to the front trailer chock and winch. You also need to take into consideration different angles when loading on different ramps.

I wouldn't move it too much...structurally, its there for a reason.

[Capt. Bob]

where it fits on the trailer with relation to the front trailer chock and winch.

Don't know your (Kid) trailer setup but on the ones I have owned , I could (and have) adjusted the front roller/chalk and the wench to accommodate the craft, not the other way around. Moving your bow eye up or down may be compensated for with your trailer settings IF they are like mine.

The caveat here is just how far you relocate the eye. Mounting it up by the bow light might still "work" but........  

Good luck.

[gran398]

Thats right CB, just wanted him to be aware of that aspect. When he said it was hanging up, guess he meant when it came off, it was hitting the first roller on the bottom of the trailer?

[TheKid]

A-firm. Eye hits bottom block on launch. I've gotten better at it. A short stop and all is good.

I cant really adjust the position of the bow blocks. It's rusted pretty good.

The real reason I want to do this is to make the bow eye replacement less painful. I only wish to move it up about 2".

But, I'm not really sure this will be easier. Just thinking out loud with you guys.

Oh, no lifting eye attachment to worry about either.

Thanks for the input. Please, if you can think of anything else, let me know.

[seabob4]

The only reason a bow eye needs to be located in a "certain" place is if there is a "flat" molded into the hull to accept the flat backing plates.  The hull has no beefier laminate along the stem, other than the bow block glassed in behind the flat to give the backing plate a flat to secure against...

So that being said, move it where you want, glass in a bow block on the inside, and have at it!

[flounderpounder225]

My bow eye was loose, same place under the floor of the anchor locker.  I cut a circle out of the anchor locker floor, tightened her up and screwed down a piece of thin fiberglass with some silicone over the hole.  It's not structural, no one will ever see it, and it makes doing the bow eye a quick job.
Marc

[TheKid]

That wasnt too bad.

While the eye bolts were split by the bottom of the locker, one eye on top and one sort of on the bottom but covered, I managed to complete the task in far less time.

Turns out the locker bottom was held in place by only a few layers of partially saturated mat and only on one side, the top.

A few passes with a utility knife set the edge. Then  a pass with a sharp chisel and hammer and it was out. Sweet!!!

The flat spot was about 18" with the eye in the middle. I took a predrilled 3"x18" piece of aluminum and set it with kitty hair filler and tightend half way until it was equally dispersed. Let it set for an hour and torqued it down.

Done. Solid as a ROCK. I would even feel comfortable hanging the whole boat by this eye now.

Thanks for the help guys.

[seabob4]

 

[c master]

I replaced mine in the original holes, added a backing plate..was a 10-minute job.  My trailer winch bracket is adjustable up/down so that was easier than new holes in the boat.

My problem is at the other end of the boat...a twisted ski rope carabiner broke my port eye on the transom.  Cant figure out how to replace it, other than cutting access ports back there. ('76 170)