H34 Adding new deck organizer & clutches

markwbird · Feb 22, 2016

The stock deck organizers are located where there is an aluminum plate inside the deck and the screws are drilled and tapped into the plate. So, if your new deck organizers will be in the same place you have the plate. The rope clutches use through bolts. You will have to remove the interior liner. Be careful on the starboard side as the liner is one long piece that will break easily when removing it. Get someone to help hold it up. I would like to see your setup if you have a photo. I want to do the same thing.

Fast Ed · Feb 22, 2016

On the starboard side you can just remove a few screws from the headliner and slip your hand in to do the work!

Blitz · Feb 23, 2016

Yes, use backing plates.

markwbird · Feb 23, 2016

At the locations where you have the aluminum plates (where the current deck organizers are) you will just drill through the deck into the plate and then use a tap to cut the threads into the hole. Make sure that you mark the drill bit so that you do not go too deep and make sure you know that the plate is there wherever you are drilling. It is also very important to take extra care in sealing the screw and hole when you install it as you will not know if water is getting in until the deck becomes rotten and gets soft. If you have never used a drill and tap, the drill bit and the tap come packaged together. Make sure you match the tap to the screws you are using and be careful and patient when cutting the threads with the tap. It is easy to break.

kloudie1 · Feb 23, 2016

Just to confabulate the issue, my clutches and organizers are not through bolted. They are tapped into the embedded thick aluminum plate. That plate is big and acts as a backing plate,so if you are tapped into it, no backing plates are needed. There may be some space between the interior liner and the deck so ya end up having to fill that space with epoxy or something if you elect to use a backing plate.

markwbird · Feb 24, 2016

No. Actually, the clutches an my boat next to the companionway are through bolted. Maybe they we not originally but they are now. None of deck organizers or blocks are through bolted.

wufibugs · Feb 24, 2016

So how would one make sure the chosen location for the organizer is over a backing plate? Magnet?

kloudie1 · Feb 25, 2016

There is an embedded plate under the mast step in the triangular/pentagonal raised section that the step sits on.. The transverse beam that the compression post bears on would really limit area for backing plates on the inside. My organizers came right up, but I think they had been re-seated back in 1990. The axle bolts that hold them together are threaded into the embedded plate in the deck. Plate is aluminum, so a magnet won't help.

wufibugs · Feb 25, 2016

I wonder if the folks at Hunter have any idea the shape and location of the aluminium backing plates used in the H-31?

kloudie1 · Feb 25, 2016

Wouldn't think that they'd know any more, Rich.. but ya never know.. the bonus would be if someone could locate an old drawing of the deck/coach top layup.. I suspect that there is one, but locating it would be tough.

kito · Feb 25, 2016

Are the embedded plate locations not identified by raised areas? I have 2 round ones for winches on either side of the companion way. The cabin top is cored with plywood. I wouldn't think they would rout out the plywood to insert a aluminum plate.....just lay it on top and glass over it.

wufibugs · Feb 25, 2016

The headliner is cut out for access to the bolts for the cabin-top winches and clutches. I'd have to look at the cabin top around the existing organizers to see if one can tell if there is metal underneath. Failing that, all I have to do is find one of those guys who wanders the beaches with a metal detector in search of family heirlooms, stray gold fillings, and discarded engagement rings and have him do the cabin top?

Ilanortho · Feb 25, 2016

I just replaced my deck organizers and clutches (H34). Schaeffer deck organizer is an exact fit part number 602976 (Defender 505-80). It bolts right in using the old screws into the embedded deck metal plate
I replaced rope clutches with Spinlock triple clutches on each side XTS. Drilled larger holes (9/16") and are through -bolted; headliner has to be loosened or removed. Total of six screws per clutch. While at it I also added Harken cam cleat on each set with a Harken riser block so I can now control the main traveller at the forward edge of the cockpit without having to reach all the way forward. Also replaced the traveler car and track with Harken raised beam track (R32HB 1.8). All came together beautifully.

Richard Bryer · Feb 26, 2016

I replaced the original clutches on both sides. It required drilling some new holes as the spacing was different. I found no metal plate.