Stanchion bases

[Jason K]

I'm thinking about ordering new stanchion bases. A PO painted the old ones with non skid (!) and I'm having a bear of a time getting them cleaned up. I think they were chromed at one point, because they are showing chrome in some spots and bronze (?) in others. They look really bad.

So, any good sources? If you ordered them, how did they fit the camber of the deck? Also, the stock Triton stanchions are 1'' diameter...right?

On a related question - do you prefer lifelines that run to the bow pulpit or to eyes on the foredeck?

[Tim]

Most stanchion bases come with a 5? base angle that matches most decks. I found the 5? to be fine for Glissando.

Garhauer makes nice looking bases, at least from what I can tell in the catalog. Glissando's bases are from Tops in Quality and are very nice and sturdy. Schaefer also makes nice bases that are readily available from catalogs.

1" diameter is standard.

I like the lifelines to run to the pulpit. Yes, it interferes some with the genoa when closehauled, but I don't worry about this. I'd rather have the lifelines stay up where they belong, rather than leave a "hole" in the system right where you might care to have it least. Racers using deck-sweeping genoas are usually more concerned about this. Since many cruising headsails are already cut higher, it's less of--or not any--concern.

My headsail was cut wrong, and rubs on the first stanchion. Several recuts have not really helped, so I'm biding time till the next genoa, which will actually be what I order instead of good-guy making do like this one.

Without much difficulty, you could install padeyes on your deck that allowed you to simply shift the lifeline to the deck if you so desired. Some basic measuring would ensure that the tension on the lifelines would remain constant when you did so. The best of both worlds?

[Jason K]

Without much difficulty, you could install padeyes on your deck that allowed you to simply shift the lifeline to the deck if you so desired. Some basic measuring would ensure that the tension on the lifelines would remain constant when you did so. The best of both worlds?

One of my primary goals from the very start of the project has been to aggressivley minimize the deck clutter that polluted the boat before I started working on her. In some cases, I'll be too aggressive and will likely reinstall some items here and there.

My motivation for leaving the padeyes off was more aesthetic than safety-oriented. Howver, on reflection, I'll be teaching my girlfriend how to sail this year and, particularly, how to do foredeck (she's got the build for it; it's not because I plan to make her do all the hard work. Really.) I certainly don't want her falling through a "hole."

This, of course, assumes that the sail can be properly trimmed. Unlike Glissando, Mojito does not have roller furling, so the sail will be closer to the deck. I'll run the lines to the pulpit and, if that fails, install the padeyes.

Do you know the width of your stanchion bases (roughly)? The Garhauer units, which look pretty good, are about 4.25" inches wide (inboard to outboard). This is opposed to cast bases from Suncor that are about half that. I'm concerned the Garhauer bases are too beefy for a Triton. What do you think?

[Tim]

Do you know the width of your stanchion bases (roughly)? The Garhauer units, which look pretty good, are about 4.25" inches wide (inboard to outboard). This is opposed to cast bases from Suncor that are about half that. I'm concerned the Garhauer bases are too beefy for a Triton. What do you think?

I'd say mine are about 3", give or take. That's a total guess, but I think the white waterway in the photo below is 1.5". The size of the base seems appropriate for the boat.

Rememember, stanchions can be put under a lot of torque load from 2' above the base. Too narrow a base is more susceptible to leaks and other problems. The Garhauers are probably overkill for a coastal boat, though, at 4.25" wide.

[Jason K]

Sheesh, I wouldn't think these things would be so hard to find. They were either too small (good point about the narrow bases, Tim) or too large. I finally went with the Tops In Quality bases, but they have a 6 deg. camber, as opposed to the 5 on Glissando. They'll be here tomorrow and, weather fairing, go on the boat this weekend. Pictures to follow.

The only problem is that I just got brand new bases - now I'll need new stanchions and lifelines in the near future. It never ends (not that I'd have it any other way).

[Tim]

It's possible that since mine are also from TIQ, that they are 6? too; I'm not sure.