Angled U-Bolts Needed

[IWanda]

Angled U-Bolt
We are looking for a U-bolt (two, actually) that is angled in-board approximately 20-25 degrees. These are located mid-ship on our 1979 Camper Nicholson 40 pilothouse sloop. The rod is 7/16” or 1.1 cm thick on the curved part above the deck and the threaded portion below deck is 3/8” or .9 cm thick. The length overall is 5” or 12.6 cm. The threaded portion is 3” or 7.5 cm long. The “eye” is 1 ¾” or 4.5 cm high and 1 1/2” or 4 cm wide. The width center rod to center rod is 2” or 5 cm. There is a backing plate measuring 1 ¾” or 7 cm long and ¾” or 2 cm wide that is just above the threaded part of the rod.

In our search so far we have found NO angled U-bolts, and no straight bolts of the dimensions we have. Can anyone suggest a source for our angled U-bolts or of a straight (not angled) one with the threaded part at least 2.75” ?

Thanks!
Mary Verlaque, S/V I Wanda <mcverlaque@yahoo.com>

[Van]

Are you talking about the chain plates? In other words are these U-bolts where the shrouds attach? On the Nic 38, these “hairpin” rods go through the deck and meet a protrusion molded into the hull (we call it a knee).

If you are replacing these, you will likely need to have them custom made. They should not be too hard to make. The purpose of the plate above the deck is simply to act as a water barrier. The challenge will be getting the angle correct, but realistically (and looking at ours on s/v Rainshadow) the angle does not have to be perfect.

You should inspect all the hairpin chainplates – our boat is a similar age, and we found crevice corrosion, although not bad and we did not replace the rods.

You may want to see our writeup at

Pulling Chainplates

[Moderator]

Oddly enough, I just stumbled into an angled v-bolt today. Very little information provided about the strength, but maybe this will lead you to something:

James Glen Marine V-bolt

Marilyn

[Author]

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