Replacing strut backing plates

kito

kito

.
Sep 13, 2012
2,011
1979 Hunter Cherubini 30 Clemmons
I got the strut off this morning on my H30. Kind of a pita working by myself. My arm was just long enough to reach the nuts. I had to clamp the nut inside with vise grips and climb up and down the ladder 12 times but it's finally done. The backing plates are rotten. I almost cried when I seen what I have in store to put new backing plates on. I am 6'5 have no idea on how I am going to contort myself in that cramped area. Any tips or lessons learned before I start besides plugging in the heating pad for my back?
 
woodster

woodster

.
Sep 15, 2009
6,244
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
kito said:
I got the strut off this morning on my H30. Kind of a pita working by myself. My arm was just long enough to reach the nuts. I had to clamp the nut inside with vise grips and climb up and down the ladder 12 times but it's finally done. The backing plates are rotten. I almost cried when I seen what I have in store to put new backing plates on. I am 6'5 have no idea on how I am going to contort myself in that cramped area. Any tips or lessons learned before I start besides plugging in the heating pad for my back?
Click to expand
hire you some help ...get everything ready and the table set to do this work the find a short young guy that is not incoherent and let him do the under deck stuff
 
31seahorse

31seahorse

.
Aug 2, 2005
1,155
Pearson 33-2 & Typhoon 18 Seneca Lake
Replace the old fasteners if at all practical/possible. Check the nuts and machine screws(?) for easy fitting. You do not want to mess with a cross threaded fastener along with the work you already have planned. Would thread seal of some type be worthwhile to prevent loosening of the bolts/machine screws? Avoid wooden backers if practical.
 
Last edited:
T

tommays

.
Oct 2, 2006
1,517
Jboat J24 commack












It was many trips on the ladder but possible solo with careful broomstick placement to hold screws in place
 
  • Like
Likes: 1 person
31seahorse

31seahorse

.
Aug 2, 2005
1,155
Pearson 33-2 & Typhoon 18 Seneca Lake
Wow, tommays! You da Man! Great pictures, exactly the right tool for the job, very well planned and executed repair. Thanks for sharing your talents. Phil
 
kito

kito

.
Sep 13, 2012
2,011
1979 Hunter Cherubini 30 Clemmons
Nice job Tommays. I see you are using my favorite tool....the oscillating saw. Not sure what I'd do without it. Looks like you at least have some room to work in. My strut is a vee shape and need 2 backing plates and is located under the fuel tank. I lucked out and was able to just pop off the old wood plates. I used one as a template and predrilled my holes in the g10 epoxy plate.
 
ggrizzard

ggrizzard

.
May 27, 2004
2,059
Hunter 30_74-83 Ponce Inlet FL
Oh Tommays, if only the H30C's nuts/backing plates were that easy to reach!
Yes, I said PLATES.
The strut is a V shape at the hull and requires two separate plates mounted at a
80 degree (or so) angle and they lie almost under a FG cross plate, aft of the stuffing box.

Kito, I'm afraid Woodster has the only viable solution.
BTW, when I replaced mine I used King Starboard instead of wood.
 
kito

kito

.
Sep 13, 2012
2,011
1979 Hunter Cherubini 30 Clemmons
ggrizzard said:
Oh Tommays, if only the H30C's nuts/backing plates were that easy to reach!
Yes, I said PLATES.
The strut is a V shape at the hull and requires two separate plates mounted at a
80 degree (or so) angle and they lie almost under a FG cross plate, aft of the stuffing box.

Kito, I'm afraid Woodster has the only viable solution.
BTW, when I replaced mine I used King Starboard instead of wood.
Click to expand
What are you using to bed your plates with? I am using glass reinforced resin on my g10 plates. I was thinking of starboard but don't think it adheres well to fiberglass resin. I guess 4200 would work. I am replacing my motor mounts, prop shaft and coupling, stuffing box flax and hose, shaft log, cutless bearing and re-bedding the strut. This is going to be fun :)
 
Chris Patterson

Chris Patterson

.
Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
Your sealing is more important on the outside. I do seal down backing plates, but in my opinion that is just in case the outer starts to leak.
And a flat bed for the plates, but by the time you honk down on the strut bolts, it's gonna pull the backing plate down.

BTW, I use Sika 291 on everything underneath..
 
kito

kito

.
Sep 13, 2012
2,011
1979 Hunter Cherubini 30 Clemmons
Just wondering. Did you guys replace the original Philips c'sink fllat head screws with hex head on the strut? Seems like you can torque them down better plus the PO painted over the philips heads making it a pain to remove. Also, what was your method of sealing each bolt? Sealant under each head?
 
Chris Patterson

Chris Patterson

.
Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
I don't. If you can get to the inside at ALL, a person on the outside with a number three phillips, and a good ratcheting wrench on the inside usually will pull it down enough.
As far as sealing, when I get done with that job, and just like thru-hulls, it looks like a gang of heroin addicts had their way with it. I just trim off the excess the next day. To say the very least I am not stingy with sealers. Bearing in mind the 500 dollar haul out if it is NOT right, i try hard the first time.
Plus a rehaul is embarrassing..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom