Busted bow pulpit

[Renovator]

Anybody have the unfortunate experience of doing this? OUCH!! Happened this past weekend while retrieving my anchor, just a little stuck and without much notice KAPOW. I have had a windlass on boats for some 12 years now but never had this to happen. My plow anchor is rigged with the tie strap release and it didn't help in this instance. I did not think I was putting anymore pressure on the pulpit than normal during retrieval. Anyhow, called GW customer relations today but no response yet. Have no idea of replacement cost but if it is pricey I will definitely look for a local source to build me a better one than the original. Maybe it is under warranty, 2005 hull, not sure. The pulpit is stout but it seems to lack interior structural supports where the opening is for the rode to pass through and that is a weak point for sure. Any thoughts or experience with this? Thanks, Ron.

 

[Legend]

Wow - that is hard to believe, I will stand on mine once in a while to get a view of the fish pier while at my dock . I will think twice about doind that again - Good luck - I will be anxious to see what GW says

 

[seasick]

It looks like a manufacturing defect to me. In the second picture on the top right edge there seems to be a void where I would expect a solid edge. That said, it is 6 years old and I don't know if Grady will do anything. I hope so. Regardless, you may want to talk to your insurance company. You may be covered.

 

[DaleH]

It looks like a manufacturing defect to me. In the second picture on the top right edge there seems to be a void where I would expect a solid edge.

Not only that but the black discoloration in the same area tells me the skin was compromised and that was water penetration, which could have frozen sometime and weakened that spot.

 

[Grog]

Can't argue something was happening on the stbd side, seeing the way it broke (like a samuri chopped it) proving the void caused the break would be tough. There wouldn't be a mirror image break on both sides if one side was compromised. I wonder when they changed to core to foam, mine was 2X lumber (now laminated plywood). You have many options, fixing fiberglass is relativey easy or you can go the teak pulpit route like the old GW's had.

 

[dgreen1069]

Holy cow, I think I'd have to change my shorts had that happened to me! Make sure you follow up with what Grady tells you. Good luck.

 

[Enough Already]

Don't take this the wrong way but the good news is this is just a bolt-on part that can be easily removed, replicated and replaced. I would definitely see what GW can do but failing there, you have many replacement options (ex: teak, plywood/glass, etc.). Before I knew better, I put tremendous strain on my pulpit, even seeing it flex (scary) and it never broke. Did anything bust on the railing other than the mounting legs? Best of luck and keep us posted.

 

[Renovator]

Thanks for the replies folks, still no reply from GW, I may try to contact them once more but it appears that I may be own my own on the repair anyhow and if so, so be it. I have a friend who is very talented with fiberglass repair and boat customization so I am going to get with him to explore some options. I may even consider "old school" and look at teak but not sure if I want to keep up with the maintenance again as I had a bit of teak on an older Wellcraft many moons ago. Luckily it is a bolt on part and I can transfer all the hardware and repair the bent bow rail supports. I will keep everyone posted as to any response I may or may not get from GW on this issue I am not looking to place blame but would expect a follow up or concern from the boat builder on something like this. Otherwise I have been very happy with this boat and have helped persuade at least one other friend to purchase a GW as well. We'll see.

 

[AllIn]

Your pulpit and windlass looks different than the one I have seen on the 232 before the redesign in 2006. Looks to me like the pulpit that's on the new model, but not the same windlass as they use on the new ones. Was this installed by GW, or by your dealer? Either way, you should try calling customer relations at GW again before you give up hope. They've helped me out before when I broke my seat on my Grady, and had me another one that same week in order to fish a fishing tournament. I would have been stuck on the bank if it wasn't for them. Call GW's Customer Relations at (252) 752-2111 and let us know when you get this resolved.

 

[BobP]

The pulpit is cored with foam? Used to be two 2 x 6 planks, as mine has (had).

Glass looks still the same as a molded gelcoat (polyester) type product construction, no glass build lay up. Just some mat in there perhaps one layer.

When I went to recore mine, some oooze was coming out the bottom holes, when it was hot out.
I cracked it clear up the side when prying out the wood.
Threw in the towel and recreated a new one from scratch and 1708.
Used old one as mold. Didn't need a core the way I built it and solid glass top skin.

Anyway, Grady pulpits have a lot of shape to them, and I bet the foredeck is crowned, to match it up need a factory replacement. I would not bother trying to glass it back to together even if possible. If it was hand layed up glass like the hull, woukd have ripped the bolts thru the foredeck before gving up the ghost!
But hand layed glass is doable with scarfing a splice.

 

[ROBERTH]

Definately keep us posted.

Bobp, I need to re-gelcoat and do some repair to my pulpit this fall during off season as the former owner had somehow chipped off the corners. Seems the inside is foam core just like that in the pic. At least it is at the corners, so I am not sure there is any wood in there. Guess I will not know this until I remove the cleat and install an windlass and there I might see if the inner core is wood on mine.

When I saw the foam, I thought to myself, gee, when I get a windlass, I need to be real careful not to pull up anchor with the pulpit, but tie off to a cleat and try to pull her free first. Now, this really scares me! But, it could happen even without a windlass.

Definately will pay close attention to how we pull up anchor now.

 

[ROBERTH]

Renovator, you still out there? Just ran across this old post and curious to your outcome.

 

[bjflink]

Hi, also looking for the outcome of this. I need to remove my bow pulpit for a similar issue, and am wondering what your strategy was for reaching the two forward bolts on the pulpit. Access seems very very limited!!

Thanks!