Similar symptoms - bolts too short!
I thought I had the same problem, except that I didn't know there was a threaded aluminum plate in the cockpit floor. I tried to tighten the bolts, but two of them just turned and turned. I thought there were nuts that had vibrated off. I talked to a couple of guys at Hunter on the phone, including one who was around when my boat was built ('89 H30), and they weren't sure if the boat had that aluminum plate or not. They were sure that there was an access panel under the pedestal in the aft cabin. But, sorry, not on my boat! No access panel, bolts loose, what to do? I was about to start cutting my own access panel in the aft cabin (yuk!) when for some reason (divine inspiration?) I decided to pull all four bolts out. I noticed the aft bolts were 1/2" longer than the forward ones. Hmmm... wonder what would happen if I screwed the aft bolts into the forward holes. Eureka! They threaded into something (plate) in the cockpit floor. So, by buying two longer bolts, I saved major surgery on the ceiling in my aft cabin. The bolt heads don't match (I couldn't find the right ones), but what the hey? Now I don't have to worry about ripping the pedestal off if I grab it in a heavy sea. Don't know if this is your problem, but worth a look. There shouldn't be any reason for those bolts to strip, but we all know the reason why Hunter boats are sometimes assembled incorrectly. I keep finding original manufacturing defects even though the boat is 11 years old, in my second season with the boat. Good luck, Bob.
