Loose pulpit screws

[Leif Arneson]

The (machine) screws attaching the after pulpit stanchions to the deck on my Hunter water ballast are loose and attempts to tighten them have been unsuccessful. It seems that whatever (backing plates?) they were screwed into have been striped. Does anyone know for a fact that there are backing plates molded into the fiberglass (as are other factory installed fixtures on the boat as for example jam cleats and gudgeons) for attachment of the after pulpit stanchions. If so, is the simplest solution to drill and tap the stripped backing plates to accommodate slightly larger diameter screws?

 

[Steve Thorogood]

Use Inserts

I think you will find that there are no backing plates for the fixtures you describe.I have found a simpler solution to the problem is to use a plastic or fibre screw-anchor (called Rawl-Plug in Europe).The purists probably wouldn't approve, but I have used this on the many threaded attachments that were stripped when the boat was manufactured!

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

lief

You did not tell us which boat you have. As a rule of thumb, all screws on the small boats generally are anchored into an aluminum plate that is encapuslated into the fiberglass. If it is stripped out, then the first suggestion is what you have already spoken of which is to retap with the next size screw up. Make sure you have the metal plate first. Also, caulk the you know what out of the screws to prevent leakage. Crazy Dave Condon

 

[Mark]

260?

On my 260 all mounting screws were torn from there threads after a meeting with a jetty.What we did was insert helicoils and went up one bolt size.I beleive that it is probably stronger now than when she was built.As Dave said make sure you put in plenty of Sikaflex or similar.I pressume when you say water balast she was built by Hunter?? If so yes there are backing plates.An email to Greg (thats Greg "the King" of Hunter customer service) will confirm.

 

[Leif Arneson]

the "King's" e-mail address

The boat is a Hunter 19 (93-96). Where do I find the "King's" e-mail address.Thanks,Leif

 

[Mark]

The Kings address

Greg EmersonE-mail Address(es): gemerson@huntermarine.com

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I will answer that one

They do have the backing plates that I mentioned earlier. The 19 was a good boat but the cost to build was so close to the 23.5 that at a dealers meeting, the decision to stop the line was laid in my lap. That was really a hard choice but I said stop and then everyone else agreed. Now as I reflect, I wonder if that was a wise move. No wonder they call me crazy.