Starboard Rail bent....can it be straightened?

[mj_duell]

We were on our way to Watch Hill via the Connecticut River in our 330ec and had another boat following us, a 30 foot sedan bridge. The other boat had an engine problem and began to over heat. The owner had a very limited understanding of marine engines and I told him I would be glad to take a look and we should raft up so I could get on board and take a look. I dropped anchor in a shallow off to one side of the river in an area just past a no-wake. This was my first Mistake, I should have found a more suitable place to raft up. The other boat came along side to be tied off when a much bigger boat took off hard from inside the no-wake and passed within about 20 yards of us. This caused our boats to violently bounce as the waves past underneath pushed the other boat up much higher than our boat and then back down on our rail bending it. It looks worse than it is and the fiberglass the rail is screwed into is undamaged. I would like to get the rail reshaped to match the port rail and hate seeing it this way. We keep the 330EC in a marina up the CT River near Hartford. Does anyone know of a company or person that can reshape the rail or any method that could be used to reshape it by me?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[rondds]

Not sure how well you can see this in the picture but my friend's bowrail bent on the piling at his marina. Extremely high tide and rough conditions of a nor'easter. Rail caught on the piling. He made up this jig with a 2x6, threaded rod and a few blocks of wood. Worked like a charm.

 

[mj_duell]

Exactly what I am looking for! I was not sure if the stainless would bend back without breaking. His bend is much worse than mine so I think I will try it. Thanks for the info and pics!

--Mike

 

[rondds]

Sure thing. Good luck. Take pix and report back!

 

[mj_duell]

Sure thing. Good luck. Take pix and report back!

I will. Unfortunately I wont be able to get to it for a couple weeks. I will take before and after pics.

--Mike

 

[lawndoctor]

Others on here know more about this than I do, but I think the boat that passed within 20 yards of you at speed is responsible for the consequences of its wake.

 

[HUMPH]

You are responsible for damage your wake caused and if two boats are attempting to rat up, that should be a no wake passing. The boat that waked you is responsible, if you have their information, I would contact them.

 

[fwebster]

I am familiar with the repair on rondd's friend's boat. There was a lot more to the repair than fastening a 2X6 on the rail and unbending it. First, identify exactly where the bend occurred. In the photo posted, the bend was exactly at the stanchions which made attaching the jig a much easier task. Then you need to determine how much vertical and how much horizontal deflection there is in the rail. Try to remove either direction completely on the first set up because that makes correcting the other direction much easier. Finally, don't get in hurry, go slow and be careful how much force you apply.

Finally, if the rail metal is stretched as well as bent, or if you over correct the bend and stretch the tubing then you are not going to get a satisfactory result. With stretched tubing, the only fix is to remove and replace a section of rail.

Good luck with it..........

 

[rcknecht]

The friend of Ron that he mentioned above, straighten out my rail as well, with the same device. The key was he used threaded rods and slowed tightened screws to pull the railing straight. You can make your own tool with a couple of 2x6s and threaded rods, and nuts...

 

[GrandMaster]

When I purchase my boat the bowrail was bent as well. Although it was so slight it was only noticed by the surveyor and not me.

However, I did get a quote to straighten it & the shop said it was a common problem. Quote was like +/- $500 if I remember correctly but since it doesn't really stand out I never went through with it.

Point is, yes they can be straightened and it is apparently a common repair.

 

[J Levine]

So I am the guy that made the contraption above to straighten out my bow rail. The only information I wanted to add it that the threaded rods and nuts were 1/2" grade 8 that I ordered from McMaster Carr, it takes quite a lot of force to bend this rail and I think if you did it with standard threaded rod and nuts like you will find at Home Depot you would probably end up stripping the threads before the rail moved. The smaller cross pieces were chunks of oak for the same reason. As Frank W indicated you will most likely never get the rail 100% back to shape but in my case it looked much better. Fortunately (or not) for me years later as the result of damage inflicted by Hurricane Sandy my bow rail was completely replaced and now looks perfect!

 

[mj_duell]

So I am the guy that made the contraption above to straighten out my bow rail. The only information I wanted to add it that the threaded rods and nuts were 1/2" grade 8 that I ordered from McMaster Carr, it takes quite a lot of force to bend this rail and I think if you did it with standard threaded rod and nuts like you will find at Home Depot you would probably end up stripping the threads before the rail moved. The smaller cross pieces were chunks of oak for the same reason. As Frank W indicated you will most likely never get the rail 100% back to shape but in my case it looked much better. Fortunately (or not) for me years later as the result of damage inflicted by Hurricane Sandy my bow rail was completely replaced and now looks perfect!

Thank You so much for this added information. I will be getting to the repair in the next two weeks if time and weather permit. I am glad you brought up the size and type for the bolts because I am sure I would have purchased smaller parts. I will give it a try and worse case I can just live with it. Its very noticeable now and I just want it to be less obvious. I will try and keep everyone here up to date as the work gets done.

--Mike

 

[Madifonzo]

Use some heat to,soften the steel to prevent the bend from breaking

 

[25thmustang]

Have you tried Petzolds down the river? Have had a few things done there. Sorry to hear about the rail, but boating in the exact same area as you, I understand some of the inconsiderate boaters out there.

 

[mj_duell]

Have you tried Petzolds down the river? Have had a few things done there. Sorry to hear about the rail, but boating in the exact same area as you, I understand some of the inconsiderate boaters out there.

No, haven't tried them yet. I will try myself and see what happens, if not Petzold's is a great resource. They run a great company. You are correct about boating on the river, it gets dicey a lot. People don't use their heads and there are a lot of accidents. Boats are bad enough, but I really hate the Jetski's. Those guys are trying to get killed. The river does not give second chances. Hope to see you out and about.

--Mike