I read an article in the C36 maintenance section of the most recent Mainsheet edition about a stemhead crack situation on the bow. The owner (on a 1991 boat, same as mine) reported the stemhead unit was cracked along the weld connecting the "tang" (my term) to which the forestay connects and the horizontal piece that is bolted through the deck. The owner removed the stemhead fitting, had it rewelded by Garhauer, and then reinstalled it.
Looked at my own unit and lo and behold, mine is cracking, too, along that same weld, although the crack is small, and is starting at the top. There was no crack there a year ago, when I went over things with a rigger.
So I'm trying to figure out my options. I found an article on the maintenance CD (great resource, by the way), where it was reported that Catalina knew about this situation with the C36's, and was offering to replace cracked stemheads "at cost."
Has anyone else encountered this? Is is a wait and watch situation? Has anyone purchased a replacement stemhead fitting from Catalina? Is the welding that complicated?
Thanks for your thoughts if you've bumped into this problem.
--Nelson
Nelson Lee, "Stella," 2002 C36, hull 2069, Universal M35BC, berthed Sausalito, CA
Doesn't really answer your question, but if I was going to disassemble that part of the boat, I would be strongly tempted to build a new chainplate fitting and put it lower in the bow, so that I could sneak the furler into the anchor locker and have a proper genoa built.
I would start with Catalina and ask if it is a 'known' problem, if so, they probably have a solution for you.
Jason V
Vancouver, BC, Canada
I suspect there are a few C36's with some crack's in that spot that have been sailing a few years now and not even know it.
If it was me I wouldn't think to haul the boat and replace immediately, but its something I would keep an eye on fix when I had some maintenance time and the rig down.
As you said a few years back Catalina would get you a replacement stemhead fitting at cost, but that was when they still made the C36. Not sure if they still have them sitting around but its worth giving them a try and seeing if they still have some. You could always bring it to any good machine shop and have it welded back better than new
I like Nimues idea, but instead of a lower fitting (I like to see a little under the genny) I would make mine with a big beefy dual bow roller and also a short bowsprit I could put on and off to get the capability to fly a roller fuller spinnaker like sail (Like a Code 0 - or roller assymetrical)
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Tom Senator
Former Mk II Tech Editor