Hunter 23 Bow Einch Eye Problem

[carboman]

Hunter 23 Bow Winch Eye Problem

I noticed the bow winch eye was loose, so I took it off and temporarily filled it so it does not leak. I also noticed the metal plate behind the nuts for the eye was rusted and seemed to be broken in half.

Should this be one solid strip of metal?

I'd be interested to know what others have done to repair theirs.

Dave

 

[isaksp00]

My eye backing plate is one strip of stainless, not broken in half. I assume this is a reasonably standard size "u bolt", so I assume you should be able to buy a backing plate, or at worst, fasion one from some stainless plate.

When I bought my boat last Spring, the prev owner had used some kind of putty around the outside of the eye, where the two shafts penetrate the hull. I removed the eye entirely, cleaned the putty out, and reglassed the area. I used West Marine epoxy system with the white (structural) fairing compound added. I bought a pair of carriage bolts the same diameter as the shafts of the eye and wrapped each in plastic wrap. I glassed the outside of the hull where the holes penetrate (and where the hull had been sort of chipped away beneath the outer backing plate) and shoved the bolts in before it hardened - to keep the holes open, avoiding having to redrill. Once it hardened, I reinstalled the u-bolt (eye) and faired the hull area next to the eye. Seems to have held well, though I still need to pretty it up a bit with some sanding before launching this Spring.
Peter

 

[peptobysmol]

Peter, I've read in the archives that someone used a piece of galvanized steel pipe IIRC a 1" diameter. Through drilled it, then bolted it in. I like this idea since it would conform to the shape of the bow better than my current strip of SS. And IMHO provide a much better structural holding power. You should be able to find the steel pipe in the plumbing section at any hardware store. The key to drilling the hole in the pipe is to get the correct angle and place it in a retaining wedge of a vice.drill holes to correct size and :dance:
Hope that helps
Brad