Have a 23 O'day on trailer and found the rear port bolt/screw looose. The bulkhead in cabin covers the bottom part and ther is no nut to hold. Was going to grind the plastic/fiberglass to gain access. Noted that the 3 other screw head fasteners were screw heads on each side (a little unusual for sure, not sure if there are male/female fasteners in lieu of bolt/nut combos). Any input would be helpful, I think this is a common problem with this design. Problem is top of cabin flexes when raising lowering mast and this is certianly wearing the area out, want to get tight. Was thinking of adding fasteners/nuts adding split ring lock washers.
loose mast plate
- Thread starter c421bdriver
- Start date
Im not sure what you mean by " top of cabin flexes when raising lowering mast", other than there is some movement...
there should be NO movement in the cabin top... there has to be a problem with the compression post.
its either gone, rotted at the end, been replaced with something that is too short, or it was too short when it was originally installed...
the "rear port" you speak of, is this a window or an opening?.. and if so, is the loose bolt it has something structural that is causing other problems?..
what you are trying to describe sounds like a barrel bolt fasteners (google it) with part of it missing...
and I cant see the common relation between the port with a loose screw and the cabintop flexing when raising the mast... is this two separate problems, or is one causing the other?
more information, and clarified a bit will help us help you
Not a cabin port issue, was referring to rear left hand fastener that holds stainless steel plate that is bolted to bulkhead vicinity to top of cabin where mast sits on with the 2 pins. The 3 bolts are tight but the 4th is inaccessible (on inside of cabin, outside screwhead is accessible). Was also unsure about seeing screw heads on the 3 accessible fasteners upper and lower, was expecting bolt/screw and nut arrangements. The top plate can be seen to flex (more upward when lifting mast by .050" give or take, so I know there are threads that need to be taken up, sorry did not take a picture.
ok. maybe you are referring to the tabernacle???...
what has probably happened is the tabernacle has pulled loose from the boat as the mast was being tripped up, and the result is that the nut has pulled thru the inner skin and is imbedded in the core of the cabin roof.... in this case, try to unscrew the bolt. if it will unscrew from the nut, then you can screw in a longer bolt part way, then tap it down with a hammer to knock the nut out of its current location so you can access it...
if you cant unscrew the existing bolt, you are back to digging around until you can get some needle nosed pliers or a wrench on the nut....
when you do get it removed, make a strong backing plate to act as a giant washer so the bolts cant pull thru...
if it pulled thru a little and is loose, its only a matter of time before it pulls thru the rest of the way while you are stepping or unstepping the mast.
what has probably happened is the tabernacle has pulled loose from the boat as the mast was being tripped up, and the result is that the nut has pulled thru the inner skin and is imbedded in the core of the cabin roof.... in this case, try to unscrew the bolt. if it will unscrew from the nut, then you can screw in a longer bolt part way, then tap it down with a hammer to knock the nut out of its current location so you can access it...
if you cant unscrew the existing bolt, you are back to digging around until you can get some needle nosed pliers or a wrench on the nut....
when you do get it removed, make a strong backing plate to act as a giant washer so the bolts cant pull thru...
if it pulled thru a little and is loose, its only a matter of time before it pulls thru the rest of the way while you are stepping or unstepping the mast.
OK, the 3 accessible bolts must be barrel design with heads on both sides, The hidden one is a 1/4-20 with a lock nut and washer. The locknut was loose, took bolt out shortened it to allow better servicing, put split ring lock washer on and locknut. Tightened down using a ground down 7/16" u-socket, . Design is little funky with the plate bolts positioned is an awkward location. Looks like the load is not distributed on a inner plate whichj is what it shpould be. Eventually will put a plate on inner side but bulkhead will need to come out to do it right. Anyone remove these and are there any issues with it?