Backing plates? We don't need no stinking backing plates.

[Richard19068]

I decided to check out the very hard to get to backing plate under the foredeck deck/anchor cleat on my O'day 31. That was fine but I was stunned to see how the two forward feet of the bow pulpit were attached. Not even a washer! I'm not sure there is even a nut on the outboard end of the two feet. It's my fault I haven't checked and rebeded earlier but I've had this boat for a long time and it has been generally very tight and dry. Guess I've been lucky.
No questions here, I just thought I'd share.

 

[Sailavie1]

Any chance that there are aluminum plates laminated in the fibreglass to which the bolts are attached to? My Hunter has these built in.

 

[srimes]

What's the core? Plywood? Plywood can be a backing plate, but there should be a washer at least.

 

[RoyS]

If some of the nuts prove difficult to remove, use a nut splitter tool to break them. Clearly you need washers, at least.

 

[Richard19068]

Any chance that there are aluminum plates laminated in the fibreglass to which the bolts are attached to?

No.

 

[Richard19068]

What's the core? Plywood? Plywood can be a backing plate, but there should be a washer at least.

I think it's balsa but could be plywood. But either way it's obvious some of the nuts have been sucked in through the layup into the wood.

 

[Richard19068]

If some of the nuts prove difficult to remove, use a nut splitter tool to break them. Clearly you need washers, at least.

Thanks.

For a couple of them I am going to have to grind off the tops of the bolts and push them down through the deck.

The hrd part, other than access, is going to be trying to figure out how to get some effective backing on the two outboard nuts that lie right on the edge between the cored and non cored sections of the deck. I guess a one piece backing plate should handle that though.

 

[dLj]

I guess a one piece backing plate should handle that though.

That's what I would try to do...

dj

 

[thinwater]

... The hrd part, other than access, is going to be trying to figure out how to get some effective backing on the two outboard nuts that lie right on the edge between the cored and non cored sections of the deck. I guess a one piece backing plate should handle that though.

I would probably sand the surface and lay on about 5 layers of 1708, then re-drill. Then the curves don't matter. Also refill the holes first with thickend epoxy. Finally, don't use fender washers (they bend) use extra thick fender washers (Bolt Depot).

I pulled a winch out of the deck because of the same PO stupid (not manufacture--after market winch). The crime was hidden above the liner.

 

[Ken13559]

Glad you found out through chance rather than through accident.

Ken Y

 

[capta]

If some of the nuts prove difficult to remove, use a nut splitter tool to break them. Clearly you need washers, at least.

How would you get a nut splitter on any of those nuts if you can't get them to back off at least beyond the glass?

 

[capta]

I decided to check out the very hard to get to backing plate under the foredeck deck/anchor cleat on my O'day 31. That was fine but I was stunned to see how the two forward feet of the bow pulpit were attached. Not even a washer! I'm not sure there is even a nut on the outboard end of the two feet. It's my fault I haven't checked and rebeded earlier but I've had this boat for a long time and it has been generally very tight and dry. Guess I've been lucky.
No questions here, I just thought I'd share.

View attachment 184845View attachment 184846

You might want to fill the holes with epoxy and redrill.

 

[RoyS]

Capta, In answer to your question to me of how to place a nut splitter on nuts that are imbedded in the fiberglass; I have no idea. I actually did not carefully study Richard's photos and see the imbedded nuts. I do, however, remember not being able to remove 35 year old nuts holding a bow cleat in the same inaccessible area of my own boat and instead using a nut splitter successfully there. Just trying to help.

 

[Richard19068]

Capta, In answer to your question to me of how to place a nut splitter on nuts that are imbedded in the fiberglass; I have no idea. I actually did not carefully study Richard's photos and see the imbedded nuts. I do, however, remember not being able to remove 35 year old nuts holding a bow cleat in the same inaccessible area of my own boat and instead using a nut splitter successfully there. Just trying to help.

Thanks. Appreciate the help. I may be able to get a nut splitter on a couple if necessary but I'll have to grind off the tops of a couple of them.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

The O'Day 25's are built the same way. Nothing more than a piece of scrap fiberglass backing for the forward cleats. They also used a lot of silicone as a sealer