Stem fitting – anyone removed it?

[Van]

We are looking to remove this vital piece of the standing rigging to enable us to add a second bow roller for a rope rode. We have a chain roller on the starboard side that guides the chain to a gypsy on the windlass. However, we’d like to be able to use a nylon rode, and use the windlass to haul that in. The windlass roller is on the port side, but there is no fair lead for the rode. So, we’re considering adding something to the port side of the stem fitting. Likely this will require welding, hence the need to remove the stem fitting from the boat.

Any thoughts? It’s held on by six hefty bolts, and I suppose after 35 years it would not be a bad idea to check them for corrosion.

Cheers,

Van

[Author]

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