Pulpit Restoration

[carl]

After removing my pulpit from the bow I sandblasted the aluminum base and had it powder coated grey. As much as I liked the look of the originally installed Teak topper mine was badly weathered, a little dry rotted, cracked and warped from years of exposure in the elements, so I placed it aside as it was too far gone to restore. I fabricated my new topper out of one inch thick black Starboard material. More to come...

[carl]

More pictures...

[shade2u2]

Carl,
I really like that work.
Why black?

[carl]

Black matches my tinted windows, black window tracks and all of the aluminum trim onboard my boat that I have previously removed, sandblasted and powder coated black as well, my boat bow to stern had a dated look to it with the original bare aluminum trim but not anymore. More to come...

[shade2u2]

Very nice.
Can't wait to see this beauty when you are done...

[carl]

When I removed my pulpit I found two rubber strips sandwiched between the pulpits aluminum base and the deck, this is the same rubber Marinette used under their bow rail bases. This rubber was all squeezed out and shriveled up, deteriorated and wet. I fashioned two new spacer pads out of a good quality exterior grade plastic material to replace the rubber strips, I clamped them to the aluminum base and drilled them in place with a 5/8" drill bit for the bolts to pass through. I also drilled the four relief pockets on the bottom side of the new 1" thick black starboard topper using a 1" forstner drill bit just deep enough to cover the bolt heads, these four pockets will now accept and hide the four bolt heads holding the pulpits aluminum base down to the deck concealing the hold down bolts.

[carl]

Bow Pulpit Restoration Complete...Several months ago I hand delivered my "GOOD" brand windlass to the "Good" factory in New Jersey for refurbishment. Nice people there with a thorough rebuild and a quick turn around, it looked brand new when I picked it up. My original teak topper was 3/4" thick. With the 1/4" thick round white starboard discs (dissimilar metal isolators) I installed under all of my bow rail bases I used 1" thick black starboard material for my new pulpit topper, this kept my bow rail flat and inline. I did not need to isolate the four stainless bow rail bases on the pulpit itself.

[BobCav]

Looks great! Giving me some excellent ideas for my whole boat restoration. I've heard nothing but great things about the Good windlass too.

[Hiramsaint]

Looking good, Carl. Getting near time to do some exploring up that way.