Before I removed the masts the bob stay was basically hard up against the bow chain plate which caused me some concern
I was having a chat before I came home and the solution might be its been fitted up side down .
I did hear it was leaking sea water before I bought the boat and it was resealed .Im removing it anyway to replace the bolts and am thinking Ill turn it around the opposite way. so the bob stay will have clearance .
I was going to remake it but turning up side might be the correct way and some how some time in the boats life it was turned upside down

whats the opinion?

I think you are right, the tang is not in alignment with the force from the bobstay as it is.

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PhoenixStar said..
I think you are right, the tang is not in alignment with the force from the bobstay as it is.

I was hoping you would say that Phoenix
That's exactly what the chap I was chatting with said and When I told him I was going to modify it . The real solution is turn it around and Id say it will be fine.
I've had a few things I was not happy about and I tend to leave it and come back to it . In this case its been nearly two years
Just need to find a volunteer now to hold a screw driver while I dive into the bow and remove the four retaining nuts.

Assuming the bowsprit goes out a couple of feet, sure looks upside down.

I don't think it would make any difference strength wise but you will have a steady flow of people telling you it's wrong! I would change it now while its relatively easy and you haven't got much to do.

I agree, definately upside down.

Sorry Ramona, but it makes a lot of difference strength wise. The way it is all the strain is on the bottom fixings. Turn it around and the strain is equally distributed on all the fixings.

On top of that, when fitted in correct orientation both the weld and the bolts will be in shear loading.

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PhoenixStar said..
Sorry Ramona, but it makes a lot of difference strength wise. The way it is all the strain is on the bottom fixings. Turn it around and the strain is equally distributed on all the fixings.

Yes it will be stronger, maybe 7 ton instead of 6.

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Ramona said..

PhoenixStar said..
Sorry Ramona, but it makes a lot of difference strength wise. The way it is all the strain is on the bottom fixings. Turn it around and the strain is equally distributed on all the fixings.

Yes it will be stronger, maybe 7 ton instead of 6.

Yes, not a lot in it.

It looks wrong and it is wrong. As it is, there will be a stress concentration at the top of the V and that is where a crack could start. Please turn it around.

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Yara said..
It looks wrong and it is wrong. As it is, there will be a stress concentration at the top of the V and that is where a crack could start. Please turn it around.

Not only that the bob stay is acting as a lever when it connected. I was going to make a new tang but when my mate and were chatting he commented on exactly what you said Yara . All along my concern was the bob stay bottoming out on the tang and putting forces on the tang mounting in the bow.
Any way its coming out next weekend and reveres and resealed with new bolts nuts and what ever else I think it will need
Phil at fleming wind vanes spun a new pin and bush set for the bob stay the old one was half through the pin probably caused by the tang being upside down. Plus being built in 1978 she's been a round a while