34PC Custom Stainless Steel Arch Hinge

[admin1]

Finally found a guy/company that would do the work! Geez.... docent anyone want to take a job these days LOL.

Some of you know that I take my arch down at the end of every season and put it back up in the beginning of the season. All so I can trailer her back to her winter resting place, indoors all winter at 68 degrees.

I would invest in a few beers and lunch at the marina restaurant and bar to help persuade a few friends to help me with removing and install the arch while in the water. Never had any issues but I was always worried about someone falling off the side of the boat while we were moving the arc to the bow for transport. No worries now with the custom hinge! 2 person operation and always on wide flat boat surface. Note was in a hurry so did not have time to polish all the silicone and fingerprints off the hinges LOL

 

[shekmark]

Wow, that is very neat indeed!

 

[FTL_Alan]

I used Foster's Yacht Services in Fort Lauderdale to put a custom hinge my 350 SS. As the photo shows, I pull the pin to unlock the hinge, then I use a windlass remote to lower and raise the arch. Without the windlass, the arch would free-fall after unlock. The windlass keeps it taut after unlocking.

 

[admin1]

I was thinking of the same thing you did! But then I would have had to lengthen all my eisen glass around the windshield so went different route.

so your arch moves forward instead of back like mine? I had to go back due to height for bridge clearance when on trailer.

how do,you use the windlass? That's a great idea. Not sure how you use it since you move it forward.

 

[FTL_Alan]

I leave the bimini top and the front connecting eisenglass attached as I lower the arch, those pieces just fold in as the arch lowers.. I do have to disconnect the bimini from the front frame, then lower the frame until it rests inside the windshield.. on a 350, the top of the windshield is a couple of inches taller than the back of the arch when the arch is lowered all the way.. the sides of the arch rest on top of the gunwales, just inside the windshield frame.. at high tide, the highest point in the boat is the top of the windshield frame, allowing me to get under the fixed bridge even at almost high tide.. the windlass is installed under the engine hatch on the starboard side.. the chain is attached to the bottom of the starboard side arch.. click the down button and the windlass chain starts to spool out and the arch comes down.. click the up button and the windlass winds the chain and the arch comes up.. having the windlass lets me raise/lower either a few inches or all the way, keeping the chain taut and the arch in place at whatever position I need for the height of the tide

 

[admin1]

Ok I did not realize you had another windlass. Very cool!

 

[formula40pc]

Very interesting. Do you have any more pics of windlass system. The hinge is a nice clean install

 

[FTL_Alan]

Here's the windlass, starboard side.. the chain going up the gunwale attaches to the bottom of the starboard side arch

 

[formula40pc]

Thnx for the pics. Very ingenious setup.

 

[admin1]

Very cool. Nice job

 

[afratki]

Both very coll setups. Seems like FTL_Alan needs to lower his arch on a regular basis while Admin just needs to lower his for Winter storage.

 

[CaptSteve]

I'm very curious on what the cost was, for the hing system with the winches?