Boat Gear Name

mikey483 · 19 February 2007, 02:34

What is the post mounted in the front bow that I have seen on some of the larger RIBs? I thought it was called a Stanchion post however, I'm having no luck in locating one for purchase and installation instructions using that name in a google search.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Mikey483

Ezgoing · 19 February 2007, 02:47

Sampson post

Bow cleat

Christopher · 19 February 2007, 13:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ezgoing

Sampson post

Bow cleat

To be pedantic I think it is "Samson Post" It might help your searches!!!

Aidan · 19 February 2007, 23:06

If you are going to install Samson post, make sure you get some eng advice on it. I would recommend that a similar Stainless Steel device be attached on the outside of the Bow where your towing eye is and Bolt it through assuming your rib can take it.

You do not mention why you need one or feel the need for one. They are heavy duty and more suited to the bow of a TUG.
I believe their real use is on Tugs that benefit from having a Towing position abaft of Bow so that when towing (sideways) being Pulled etc, the Tug has more steerage.

So why do you need one????

I think The Ballistic Rib has one, check ribsforsale.com

havener · 21 February 2007, 16:26

Often they're fitted more as a fashion accessory than a useful bit of kit. We've towed more than one casualty vessel only to find their post flying towards us on the end of the pull, whilst the boat stays where it was....

Definately fix using a spreader plate bolted through deck strengetheners at the least.

IBWET · 21 February 2007, 17:46

I wouldn't be without one on a rib.

It's usefull in mooring (much easier attaching a line)

anchoring with no worries about chafing,The rope pulls vertiically over a rubbing strake/tube section.

We tie things down with between the stanchion legs using bungies.

It makes things stable in the bow in rough sees if you can attach them to it.

It makes a good tenting point for a cover both to reduce rain pooling with the cover on.and for somewhere to hide from the rain.

I've mounted a 6 aux there on a fabricated bracket to aid weight distribution.

My kids use it to hang on to when they are up in the bow. (I wouldn't let them up there if on the plane if the post wasn't there)

if attaching a line to say a larger boat, the kleats you are attaching too are normally higher than the post, so rope work is simple, with no leaning over the bow (again no worrying about kids falling in), anyone can tie off.

It's one of the the most used thing on the boat.

PS. In relation to ribs , you should never tow with the samson post.

Aidan · 21 February 2007, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by IBWET

I wouldn't be without one on a rib.

PS. In relation to ribs , you should never tow with the samson post.

Yes I think you will find it rather difficult, if not dangerous. It will very much take away the top of ones cockpit and perhaps you "may lose the head" literally.

So do not do it at all......
A tug is a wholly different matter..... and then very carefully...
More people die that you can imagine with snapped hawsers and thus "lose the head" than you may wish to find out.. messy business...

Aidan · 21 February 2007, 22:12

By the way, I do believe it is called a Sampson post and not a samson post, but if the difference is important to you, take up stamp collecting or something.
It aint what its called, its what it does that counts.

Poly · 21 February 2007, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aidan

By the way, I do believe it is called a Sampson post and not a samson post, but if the difference is important to you, take up stamp collecting or something.
It aint what its called, its what it does that counts.

Ahh - but it is important if you are trying to google for something that you can spell it. In which case it helps if you omit the "P" as you will then get 10x as many hits. I have no idea which is technically correct - but it seems more common to omit the P.

IBWET · 21 February 2007, 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aidan

Yes I think you will find it rather difficult, if not dangerous. It will very much take away the top of ones cockpit and perhaps you "may lose the head" literally.

So do not do it at all......
A tug is a wholly different matter..... and then very carefully...
More people die that you can imagine with snapped hawsers and thus "lose the head" than you may wish to find out.. messy business...

I think he meant being towed by the samson post,which in this disussion is placed in the bow.

Aidan · 22 February 2007, 00:28

Hi Ibwet, yes I would have thought being towed rather than towing.
I have no argument with this other than to mention that if you have the power and steerage, then a tug finds it most useful to have the centre of towing somewhere centre midships.

Anyway, I seem to recall it being called a Sampson post and whilst its is easily associative witha strong post and thus samson who was the strong man in the Bible, but I doubt it has any association.

Term: king post (maritime)

Definition: A strong vertical post used to support a ship's windlass and the heel of a ship's bowsprit. Also called a sampson post.
[Source: "Glossary." Wisconsin's Great Lakes Shipwrecks (http://www.wisconsinshipwrecks.org/)]

An important thing about this is that I believe for a rib you will not use the transom post other than to tie off the bitter end of the Tow rope with it having been taken through a "fairlead on the bow and made off low on the lower bow eye to keep the bow from dunking....

Dont get me wrong, you can call it what you like, I have no doubt that it is no more than the difference between Colour and color.
I seem to recall it being built into the Centre Backbone of Boat whatever they call it and thus it pins own a Bowsprit. so be careful if you add one that it can take the same strain...

The other important thing is that people involved in tow situations should be aware of hawsers breaking and decapitating people. In heavy seas where the period of the waves causes a jerking movement between tow boat and boat being towed (mainly in heavy displacement boats) versus the wave period, the strain on the tow line can be too much as in Jerk break with dangerous results. So dont worry what its called, you shouldnt have to use one in RIB.