Bow U-Bolt Wooden Block Replacment

[MSN-Oday]

While inspecting my new 84' O'day 26' I found the wooden block in the very forward interior of the bow that is the hard point anchoring the bow U bolt is rotten...

-The old wooden block has been removed
-I have rebuilt the wooden block to the proper dimensions.
-The foam/sealant remains in the bow still retaining the receiving shape of the old block

My questions are:
Should I leave the original foam/sealant and add new foam/sealant in and around the location?
Should I chip out and remove as necessary the old foam/sealant and replace?
What is this foam/sealant stuff? What should I use?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[agprice22]

I would clean out everything down to the fiberglass. Seal it with 5200. The hull has no wood in it, so remove anything that is bare wood or not glass. Make a block, but encase it with epoxy. Over drill the holes in your block, fill them with epoxy, and redrill them the correct size. Thus, the bolts are passing through only epoxy, and water cannot touch the wood.
Epoxy your block in place, or glue it with 5200. I would use the 5200.

 

[Ward H]

What Andrew said. While your at it take the drain hose off the nipple above the bow eye bolt, clean it up a bit and epoxy that also so drain water doesn't leak back into the boat.

 

[agprice22]

Lots of through hull fixtures used wood blocks for backing. Seems like a bad idea, but they do last pretty long. I think they absorb moisture amd expand. Then they shrink, rot, crack, and fail. I would think epoxy coating them or using structural fiberglass board for backing would be better. Better yet, a stainless backing plate.

 

[Ward H]

Lots of through hull fixtures used wood blocks for backing. Seems like a bad idea, but they do last pretty long. I think they absorb moisture amd expand. Then they shrink, rot, crack, and fail. I would think epoxy coating them or using structural fiberglass board for backing would be better. Better yet, a stainless backing plate.

I agree. A wood replacement can last 30 years but a SS or FG backing plate would normally be better.
For that bow eye bolt I think a wood blocked can be shaped to fit tightly easier than SS or FG. Then over drill the holes, saturate/seal with epoxy and epoxy in place will be fine just as you recommended.
I just think Scott needs to address that anchor locker drain hose and barb at the same time. Mine was loose and let drain water and wave splash inside the boat.