Backing for Winch Pad on cabin house of 1979 Hunter 30

[Robert1224]

Hello,

I am adding halyard winches to the cabin house on my 1979 H30. Does anyone know what the backing is under these pads, plywood or metal? Have any of our members done this?

Regards,
Bob

 

[kito]

I just mounted winches on those cabin top raised circular pads and on my 79 H30 and there was no metal, just wood. I was all set to drill and tap but was disappointed to find out that I had to through bolt them on.

 

[SFS]

I don't have that exact boat (mine is a 1983 H31), but I was a little disappointed to find just yesterday that my cabin-top winches are not backed at all, just through bolted with fender washers. I decided to check because the backing plate for my starboard jib sheet winch was delaminating, so if I'm replacing one I wanted to replaced any others needing it. After removing the access panel in the cabin ceiling, I also discovered that whatever I decide to use as a backing plate has to be pretty thin - there wasn't a lot of clearance between the bottom of the nuts and the top of the cosmetic cover panel.

 

[jssailem]

SFS
Practical Sailor did a good article on backing plates in August of this year. Not sure if this link will help.
http://www.practical-sailor.com/iss...-does-a-backing-plate-need-to-be_12058-1.html
Opened my eyes to the issue. I have as a priority to rebed all deck hardware this next year, and install backing plates. There are many places in my old boat that are without a backing plate.