Found a source for rubber bumpers!

[robertsapp]

You know those small black rubber bumpers that are used under locker lids and table backs and a bunch of other places on the boat? Those ones that mount with a screw through the middle, about 3/4" wide, that harden, crumble and decay away after 10 or 15 years? Well after searching high and low, including at the big box stores, the marine suppy shops, and even sending an email to Hunter (no luck there), I finally found them! If you want or need to replace some or all of these little black button bumpers, you can get them at the McMaster-Carr website at www.mcmaster.com. The part number is 9540K21, and the great news is you get 100 for $12.

We should start an archive to park messages when someone finds a source for a part that you can't get from Hunter or this site.

 

[Phil Herring]

That may work, but it's not quite the same part. We've got some coming as well that we think might be identical to the originals. But what the heck, if these do the job, great!

 

[robertsapp]

I did check here, as I would have bought them from you if you had had them. It's good to know you'll be carrying them soon, although I'm now set for life since they came 100 to a package. The dimensions were pretty much identical to the one I took off to use as an example.

 

[Warren Milberg]

Phil: I bought some of the originals from Hunter 8 years ago, but it appears they no longer stock them. Please post a note when SBO gets them. Thanks.

 

[Dan Johnson]

"Bumpers"

I started replacing my black ones that had deteriorated with white ones from HD. Should be readily available in the section that has furniture hardware...

 

[Mike Culik]

I've used the McMaster Carr bumpers on two diffrent Hunters...there not exact...a little larger in diameter .... More support as far as I'm concerned and they worked great!

 

[sail902]

So,what is the final verdict on the bumpers? Is it the ones from McMaster Carr part number 9540K21 that works the best? Or? All of mine are shot and it's getting critical, many are gone. Thanks

 

[robertsapp]

So,what is the final verdict on the bumpers? Is it the ones from McMaster Carr part number 9540K21 that works the best? Or? All of mine are shot and it's getting critical, many are gone. Thanks

I've been so busy making new companionway bulkheads and drop boards that I haven't had a chance to get down to the boat for about ten days. I'll try to get our new bumpers installed next weekend and take a few pictures.

 

[Steve Dion]

I purchased a bag from McMaster too. They are hard plastic, but the do help keep the stress off of the hinges. I think that the rubber/poly ones would be better.

 

[robertsapp]

I purchased a bag from McMaster too. They are hard plastic, but the do help keep the stress off of the hinges. I think that the rubber/poly ones would be better.

Just curious, did you order the above part number? Because the ones I received are rubber, not plastic.

 

[sail902]

Just curious, did you order the above part number? Because the ones I received are rubber, not plastic.

What part number did you order Robert? Did you get the ones with the washer? I need to order a bag soon, just have to figure out which ones are the right ones! Thank You

 

[robertsapp]

What part number did you order Robert? Did you get the ones with the washer? I need to order a bag soon, just have to figure out which ones are the right ones! Thank You

The part number is in my original post. I went without washers, both because my existing ones (what was left of them) didn't have washers, and I was concerned about a potential corrosion problem. A piece of good news - it appears that this site will soon be offering them.

 

[FourPoints]

THANK YOU!

Even though I only need about 10 of them, I just ordered the 100 pack. I figure that since they are not rated for outdoor use, I'll be replacing them more often than the 22 years my current ones have now made it (and about 10-15 years too long I suspect).

at $12, I figure the 100 pack isn't much different than buying a 4 pack at west marine (if they carried them)

 

[Marc Rivest]

Pardon my ignorance

I started replacing my black ones that had deteriorated with white ones from HD. Should be readily available in the section that has furniture hardware...

I have also been looking for replacement bumpers for some time. Pardon my ignorance but what does "HD" stand for in the above thread?

 

[Mike Culik]

HD Home Depot

 

[sail902]

I have also been looking for replacement bumpers for some time. Pardon my ignorance but what does "HD" stand for in the above thread?

Hi Marc,
I assume that "HD" means Home Depot? I haven't been able to get to a HD yet, I did look in Lowe's for the rubber bumpers with no luck.

 

[Marc Rivest]

Thanks Mike and Sail902 for the quick reply. I'll head over to HD for a look-see.

 

[JKCMBOAT]

I used black rubber bumpers made for the blunt end of pool cues. I purchased them from amazon.com, $5 for 12. They fit and work perfect. My boat is a Hunter 25.5, 1984.

 

[robertsapp]

I installed the new bumpers this past weekend, and they worked perfectly. Here are some pictures. One is of one of the old ones next to one of the new ones for comparison. They are pliable synthetic rubber, and not a hard plastic. The next picture is a closeup of one of the old bumpers still installed on my boat. This is actually one of the better ones, most are crumbling away. The bumper isn't white, the previous owner painted everything, and painted right over the bumpers. The next picture shows a new bumper installed in its place, and the final picture shows the entire locker.

I did notice that most (but not all for some reason) of the old bumpers did have the metal washer in them. As you would expect, they were severly corroded and just crumbled away into rusty bits as I removed them. I specifically replaced them with ones without washers, although if you're going for that absolutely authentic look, you can get the ones with washers from the same source.

 

[FourPoints]

I haven't installed them yet, but I did compare them against an old one that had gotten hard and cracked and eventually fell off, that I have been keeping around to use as a reference to compare against potential replacements. The dimensions look almost identical except the old one is actually 1/8" taller on one side (the other side is missing so I can't compare), but I suspect that's a result of the old rubber swelling and being deformed more than a manufacturing size difference.