Repair & maintenance: Stainless Steel Fittings

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Stainless Steel Fittings

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3038
Printed Date: 13 May 25 at 10:16pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Stainless Steel Fittings

Posted By: WildWood
Subject: Stainless Steel Fittings
Date Posted: 04 Jun 07 at 4:13pm

I have had several stainless steel fittings 'pop' so far this season. They were all fairly well used with relatively high loads, but weren't showing any signs of failing in the way they did. The fittings (mainsheet traveller slider, kicker base plate & jib fairlead) all failed without any real warning. I'm slightly worried that something more important such as a shroud chain plate or adjuster might be next bringing the rig down.

Anyone had similar experience? I suppose the solution is to replace all the bits that might pop, but that's going to cost a fortune.

Replies:

Posted By: mike ellis
Date Posted: 04 Jun 07 at 6:49pm

what do you mean by pop? did they break inot little pieces or did the rivets fall apart or what?

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600 732, will call it Sticks and Stones when i get round to it.
Also International 14, 1318

Posted By: tack'ho
Date Posted: 05 Jun 07 at 9:42am

Every time a rivet, looks like going or goes, I have started to replace them whenever possible with a Stainless nut and bolt (not always feasible I know but so much more reliable).

Also sometimes it's not the fact the rivet is corroded it can be the the fact that under stress the hole it fits in has gradually incresed in size (sometimes with the help of salt water corrosion!)

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I might be sailing it, but it's still sh**e!

Posted By: WildWood
Date Posted: 05 Jun 07 at 4:13pm

It wasn't rivots or screws though it was the actual fittings. The metal making up the fittings seemed to crack and the fitting disintergrated or popped open, releasing the blocks attached to them. I guess it is just a fatigue of the fitting. The worrying thing is there was no obvious tell tale signs before they actually broke.

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Posted By: Granite
Date Posted: 05 Jun 07 at 6:22pm

Get yourself a 10x magnifying glass, a good light and go over all your fittings if any are starting to crack you should be able to see it. small cracks would be evident from staining.

pay particular attention to welds, cut outs holes and bends. Get one of the green scotchbrite plastic dish scourers to clean off any surface corrosion.

If they have just failed it is likely that they have been overloaded at some point or were under specified for the application

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If it doesn't break it's too heavy; if it does it wasn't built right