So what's your opinion about the best backing plate materials. Obviously, not starboard, since it deforms. I'm looking for a source for the material as well. I have a Hunter 26 and they used a 1/4" stainless backing plate for their cleats, but I'm not sure where I could get that and what would cut it.
Best backing plate material for cleats/chocks
- Thread starter Rich L
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Backing Plate
It May depend on the load exerted on the area. I recently rebed a factory-installed forward cleat and two mid-ship cleats that had wide ss washers as a backing plate on the two giant anchoring screws. These were anchored thru the toe rail and not into the deck. 1/4" plates may be available at a macjine shop that will also cut and drill them for you.
It May depend on the load exerted on the area. I recently rebed a factory-installed forward cleat and two mid-ship cleats that had wide ss washers as a backing plate on the two giant anchoring screws. These were anchored thru the toe rail and not into the deck. 1/4" plates may be available at a macjine shop that will also cut and drill them for you.
Stainless
Stainless is what the factory used as standard and that should be what you go back to. It is significantly stronger than aluminum and will not corrode in the future, like aluminum can. Aluminum oxidizes like steel it just forms a white powder rather than thr rust that is appearent when steel oxidizes. You can obtain it by looking in the phone book under "metal fabricators" in any city of size and they will cut to order. For no more stainless than you are going to use it will not breake the bank.
Stainless is what the factory used as standard and that should be what you go back to. It is significantly stronger than aluminum and will not corrode in the future, like aluminum can. Aluminum oxidizes like steel it just forms a white powder rather than thr rust that is appearent when steel oxidizes. You can obtain it by looking in the phone book under "metal fabricators" in any city of size and they will cut to order. For no more stainless than you are going to use it will not breake the bank.
Aluminum...
The purpose of backing plates or washers is to distibute the load across a greater area of the deck, hull, or whatever you are mounting hardware too. Oversized washers are often adequate. Aluminum is going to work just fine for most applications if you are going to through bolt it and in many cases when you are tapping it to receive a bolt. Hunter inbeds aluminum plate into the deck to mount hardware and they drill/tap to receive SS bolts. Al. is much easier to work with and less expensive than SS. You can find Aluminum backing plate stock in the BoatUS and West Marine catalogs, too. More info avail in link. Fair winds, Tom
The purpose of backing plates or washers is to distibute the load across a greater area of the deck, hull, or whatever you are mounting hardware too. Oversized washers are often adequate. Aluminum is going to work just fine for most applications if you are going to through bolt it and in many cases when you are tapping it to receive a bolt. Hunter inbeds aluminum plate into the deck to mount hardware and they drill/tap to receive SS bolts. Al. is much easier to work with and less expensive than SS. You can find Aluminum backing plate stock in the BoatUS and West Marine catalogs, too. More info avail in link. Fair winds, Tom
Stainless
Using dissimilar metals can create a corrosive result. Similar to what happens in a battery.
Using dissimilar metals can create a corrosive result. Similar to what happens in a battery.
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