I have a 1998 Hunter 260 with wheel steering. I just got back from the Keys and had trouble with the helm seat base shifting back and forth a bit. I'm having trouble with the seat base stripping out the screws at the bottom rear, where the seat base mounts to the transom. This would be at the floor level behind the gas tank on the outside. The seat base at the cockpit floor has pulled a couple screws through the fiberglass also. This seems to be caused by rudder pressure at the top of the rudder post wear it mounts to the seat. Has anyone else experienced this? I wonder if I can replace the screws with bolts, washers and nuts. Anyone know what the transom is made of? I have and will be doing some coastal sailing in the Keys and need to secure this before I have a serious problem. Please see attached pictures.
1998 Hunter 260 rudder post issue
- Thread starter Drich
- Start date
DR
The 260 had two deck plates for the cockpit one for tiller and the other for wheel steering as the deck or floor for the wheel steering had to be raised and strengthen. In the cockpit, the floor is held by stainless steel wood type screws. As for the back I believe it was nut and bolts. It is a matter of tightening them. First with the floor screws, if any are loose, then tighten them using 4200 sealant, not 5200. As for the transom, if they are screws, do the same. If the screw threads are stripped out, go with the next size thread. If bolt and nut, tighten them using 4200 again and that should solve that issue. Do it before the boat goes back into the water. Email via forum email if you have additional questions and include your phone number so we can talk with one another. I do not share any private info not even with my wife and with a few exceptions, I discard that information when finished.
The 260 had two deck plates for the cockpit one for tiller and the other for wheel steering as the deck or floor for the wheel steering had to be raised and strengthen. In the cockpit, the floor is held by stainless steel wood type screws. As for the back I believe it was nut and bolts. It is a matter of tightening them. First with the floor screws, if any are loose, then tighten them using 4200 sealant, not 5200. As for the transom, if they are screws, do the same. If the screw threads are stripped out, go with the next size thread. If bolt and nut, tighten them using 4200 again and that should solve that issue. Do it before the boat goes back into the water. Email via forum email if you have additional questions and include your phone number so we can talk with one another. I do not share any private info not even with my wife and with a few exceptions, I discard that information when finished.
Thanks, Dave
I will try the over size screws and 4200 sealant. We are headed down to Charlotte Harbor in a couple weeks to do some Costal sailing. We shall see if that holds it.
I will try the over size screws and 4200 sealant. We are headed down to Charlotte Harbor in a couple weeks to do some Costal sailing. We shall see if that holds it.
I forgot to mention tighten up the nuts and bolts. One other suggestion. On the cockpit floor where the deck plate is screwed down, suggest a bead of silicon over that lip