Bow Mooring Cleats - '89 H33.5

[KVNJR]

All,

I've been lurking in the background here, gaining a lot of useful information as a new Hunter owner. Our new-to-us Hunter is an '89 33.5, just purchased this spring. One of the things the surveyor commented on was the fact that the two bow cleats are somewhat loose, and should be re-bedded and tightened. Since she'll be hanging on a mooring, I'll obviously want to take care of this prior to launch. I took a quick look in the V-Berth and in the anchor locker to see if I could spy the backing plates and nuts... No joy. Could I be so lucky as to have the fasteners go into an aluminum backing plate embedded in the fiberglass? I doubt it, cuz I'm usually NOT that lucky..
Any first hand experiences would be greatly appreciated!
Thx!
Ken

 

[Phil Herring]

You're that lucky.

 

[KVNJR]

Awesome!

You're that lucky.

Thanks Phil,

I REALLY didn't want to start loosening the fasteners and hear that gut-wrenching "clink" as the nuts and washers fall to the bilge!

 

[KVNJR]

Re: Awesome!

OK, just a quick update:
Both Port side bow cleat bolts were sheared off about 3/4" below the deck surface. when re-installing the cleat, the aft bolt tightened up pretty good. It appears however, that the threads in the Al plate for the forward bolt are stripped. It won't tighten up. As for the Stbd side, I had no success in removing the cleat. Bolts spin freely, but don't back up out of the cleat, even when applying upward pressure on the cleat. Can only assume (possibly wrongly) that these have nuts on them.. Guess I'll be drilling a couple of access holes in the anchor locker liner pan, unless someone has other thoughts?...