narai mkiv beam bracket replacement

[dan]

I recently purchased a narai MKIV from the seventies. I have found that the brackets holding the beams in place are old steel and rotted out and I need to pull up all the beams and replace the steel brackets. I was wondering if anybody has any experience with the trough style design theme
and could tell me if it would be better putting aluminum brackets in next time or to continue to go with the steel. I also have to remove the wood decking the masts and all the rigging. I have a center engine pod design and I'm going to have to support the engine pod while I'm taking out the two center beams but I don't know if there's any way for me to do this other than on the hard. if anybody has ever replaced these brackets and has any insight on an easier way or better materials as they're nearly unserviceable in their position once everything is installed, I would love to hear your experiences replacing these. thank you

[paul anderson]

I have no experience with these boats whatsoever, however would it not be possible to incorporate the tiki style lashing systems instead of steel? You will be rebuilding the beams? This kind of work can be done afloat,ie one beam at a time but i ebelive it will be far simpler on the hard.

[Andrés]

Wharram does not design the beam with brackets since the seventies. He changed them for lashings in the first Pahis and never go back, so I think the lashings are a better system. Following Pauls's suggestion, there are several packages that JWD sells with improvements of the classic designs. You can see it in 

http://wharram.com/site/catalog/building-plans/classic-designs

Changing the steel brackets for aluminum could be risky, not only because you have to know how to calculate the strenght of both materials, so you can have the same strenght, but also I don''t know if in that thickness aluminum is as elastic as steel; if it si not, then it can break. The beams are one of the most importatnt parts in an open bridgedeck cat, and I think is better to choose the most safest options.

[dan]

I wasn't planning on rebuilding the beams. Their in good shape. Thanks for the suggestions. I kind of felt the same way aabout the aluminum thickness. Doesn't seem like their is very many of my style and vintage wharrams out here.

[Budget Boater]

Are you removing the beams for a reason? Or do you think that is what is necessary to replace the brackets?

The brackets can be renewed one at a time without disassembling your boat, or removing the beams.

[paul anderson]

Dan, have a look at Bertrans method of lashing beams

[Budget Boater]

Guys, the Narai MKIV's beams are not long enough to lash Tiki style. He would need to build new beams to convert to lashing. It seems he wants to go sailing, not reinvent what appears to be a nice Narai.

[dan]

I am replacing brackets cause the threaded rod has rotted through on a couple of them. I was going through them checking the rubber and scaling the rust off and rust proofing and the brackets are falling to pieces. Can't put my wife in a boat I'd be sketched out to take in 6 ft waves much less the open ocean. I'd be fine making new beams if I have to but the beams seem good still. The troughs seem strong and solid still. I'm a carpenter so it's not the end of the world to change things up but I was hoping to catch up with the floatilla next summer and getting more projecting going wasn't my first choice. I can't get the brackets off the beams though without the lag bolts snapping off. And the tab on the bottom of the bracket keeps me from repair on the steel plate that rests in the trough. I want to upgrade beams, but in a couple years after some exploring, and in central America where being on the hard is cheap. Along with labor help. Lol

[Brandon Gamble]

Interesting Ideas here... Not a solution to your problem but I'll come by on Monday to help with that.

[Penn D]

What about lashing the inside of the beam and putting some new brackets on the outside?

If its just a temp repair (couple of years) the some hot dip gal steel should do it just fine.

Good luck and fair winds :)

[matt connolly]

If your on the east coast of australia i may have a full set of new steel brackets that you may be able to use. They were for a tangaroa mk 4 but i dont need them.

[dan]

matt connolly said:

If your on the east coast of australia i may have a full set of new steel brackets that you may be able to use. They were for a tangaroa mk 4 but i dont need them.

It would probably be just as cheap to fly there as make new ones. Lol.

[Brandon Gamble]

You guys never heard of the mail huh?