www.iFourWinns.com

Since the previous owner of our drystack went out of business, I'm stuck with their mistake. The bowrail was slightly bent down from hitting the overhead. I'm kind of used to it now, it's not very obvious, but I was trying to think of a way to bend it back up. Over the winter I thought of clamping a six foot 4x4 with blocks on the ends, and then drawing the middle up to bend it back to original. But, I have a feeling nothing would happen, or I would mess it up worse. Has anybody tried something similiar?

Is it bent at the two diagonals? You need to pull it up equally from the center of the forward bend?

If so, I think I'd build a jig. A crosspiece, a pair of 2x4s laying across the top of the rails at the diagonal joints (just above the bends, I assume) would support a vertical V of 2x4s, maybe six-feet high, from which a comealong would pull on a 2x4 under the forward rail. You'd need to tie the top of the V aft-ward, too, to keep it vertical, but most of the downforce should be directed to the bends.

_________________
Tom
Cape Coral

'99 Four Winns 258 Vista
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bowcam
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cape-coral-marine-radio VHF
http://67.207.143.181/vlf9.m3u VLF: Lightning, spherics

That's kind of the idea I had, but it's in drystack, so the only thing I can think of is the upper piece, probably flat, with a c-clamp pulling up the center. I can leave it on for a few months. You're right, I didn't think, I would want the blocked ends to be at the two points of the vertical uprights, since it is pretty equally bent between them. BTW, it's a 2005 V258.

Be mindful the dry stack folks might not take too kindly to your rigging up something that's going to remain under tension. Let alone having anyone working on the boat while it's stacked. The jig idea sounds reasonable, just make sure you're there with it while it's set up.

_________________
-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Good points