The screws holding the front hatch cover on my boat have worked loose and two have stripped out. The are screwed in to the deck. What is the best way to re-bed them so they could be removed later, if necessary. They appear to be about 3/16 inch.
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I think I would use epoxy
drill out the holes a couple time bigger than the diameter of the screws, without drilling all the way through, then mix up a thickened mixture of epoxy and pour into each of the holes. When it is set up, just drill the correct size for the screws and reinstall them. I had to do this on our boat.
drill out the holes a couple time bigger than the diameter of the screws, without drilling all the way through, then mix up a thickened mixture of epoxy and pour into each of the holes. When it is set up, just drill the correct size for the screws and reinstall them. I had to do this on our boat.
I'd change Scott's procedure a bit
After you drill the holes out (say 1/2" diam.) cut a short length of hardwood dowel, of the same diameter as the hole, flush with the deck. Coat the hole and the dowel with epoxy, re-insert it and let it set up. I had a loose grab rail on my cabintop and fixed it this way. I like the bite into the hardwood better that into the epoxy. Both methods would probably work. Tom s/v Orion's Child
After you drill the holes out (say 1/2" diam.) cut a short length of hardwood dowel, of the same diameter as the hole, flush with the deck. Coat the hole and the dowel with epoxy, re-insert it and let it set up. I had a loose grab rail on my cabintop and fixed it this way. I like the bite into the hardwood better that into the epoxy. Both methods would probably work. Tom s/v Orion's Child
You must first know??
Why the screws stripped out in the first place! Did they strip becuase the core is wet? If the core is wet than you have a much larger job than just filling the holes with epoxy and you need to address the soggy core first. If the core around the hatch is dry then you can move onto the suggestions made below..
Why the screws stripped out in the first place! Did they strip becuase the core is wet? If the core is wet than you have a much larger job than just filling the holes with epoxy and you need to address the soggy core first. If the core around the hatch is dry then you can move onto the suggestions made below..
Thanks! (NM)
Screws worked loose over the past 20 yrs, on the side of the hatch the prop is on. Core's OK.
Screws worked loose over the past 20 yrs, on the side of the hatch the prop is on. Core's OK.
If the core is OK, just fill the holes
with a little epoxy resin thickened with silica or linen fibre, or use just resin first to seal things up, then Marine Tex, JB Weld, or other good putty, then drill new holes for next size bigger screws, or through bolts if you can get to the other side. It sounds like the screws were not strong enough for the force when somebody kicked or fell or sat on the hatch. Look at the hatch and prop carefully. Think about what forces caused the screws to fail. Maybe through bolts are a good idea, or there's some way to keep the strain off the screws, like take off the prop and add a strap to hold the hatch open by slipping it over something on deck..
with a little epoxy resin thickened with silica or linen fibre, or use just resin first to seal things up, then Marine Tex, JB Weld, or other good putty, then drill new holes for next size bigger screws, or through bolts if you can get to the other side. It sounds like the screws were not strong enough for the force when somebody kicked or fell or sat on the hatch. Look at the hatch and prop carefully. Think about what forces caused the screws to fail. Maybe through bolts are a good idea, or there's some way to keep the strain off the screws, like take off the prop and add a strap to hold the hatch open by slipping it over something on deck..
Just filling the holes and redrilling won't do it.
If you oversize the hole and then fill with an epoxy /fiber mix, then redrill for the fastener, that works. Problem is I don't know it you are talking about one 1/4" layer of fiberglass or if you are talking about a deck layup with core and an inner liner. The ideal is to make sure it bonds to the existing hole and backside of the hole. If you slightly oversize the hole then make sure you remove some of the coring around and behind with a bent nail in a dremmel tool, you will endup with something that does not strip so easy as a 1/4 " of fiberglass. Use epoxy, it has the best bonding power to a cured polyester resin boat. r.w.landau
If you oversize the hole and then fill with an epoxy /fiber mix, then redrill for the fastener, that works. Problem is I don't know it you are talking about one 1/4" layer of fiberglass or if you are talking about a deck layup with core and an inner liner. The ideal is to make sure it bonds to the existing hole and backside of the hole. If you slightly oversize the hole then make sure you remove some of the coring around and behind with a bent nail in a dremmel tool, you will endup with something that does not strip so easy as a 1/4 " of fiberglass. Use epoxy, it has the best bonding power to a cured polyester resin boat. r.w.landau
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