Question about repair of fold-down swim step on Hunter 36

[AndyL]

Not exactly sure what to call the fold down seat/step in the center of the transom, but mine has a problem. There is a line attached to the step that is used to pull it up or lower it down. The plastic piece where the line is attached is held into the fiberglass shell of the seat by several small screws that come in from the side. From repeated use over the years, the screw nearest the line's attachment point has broken the fiberglass hole that it goes through. When pulling the line, the weight of the seat pulls the two pieces apart and a gap forms at the damaged screw hole - the remaining screws hold it all together for now but I'm worried the whole thing will eventually come apart.

Has anyone had this issue and been successful in repairing it? If so, how did you do it?

Thanks,
Andy

 

[kappykaplan]

@AndyL , any photos of the damaged area?

 

[AndyL]

Sorry. As soon as I posted I thought "why didn't I take a picture!" but unfortunately I didn't think of it.

I grabbed a shot from the internet (someone else's boat) and added arrows where the four screws go through the fiberglass shell to secure the top section which is made of plastic. The blue circle is the problem screw.

The screws are small - maybe 1" long - and the weight of the step, especially if filled with rain water, seems too much for such an arrangement to work reliably. The hole in the shell has been worn or chipped to the point where it is much too big for the screw and there is just a tiny bit of fiberglass left.

I could use epoxy to repair the hole but I doubt it would last very long. I was thinking of drilling a new hole about an inch away from the old and using a longer screw. I'd like to do something bomb proof like through bolt the fitting that holds the rope but that would require careful counter sinking on the other side which is the seat and is curved, and it would look ugly.

I don't have any better ideas!

 

[seadaddler]

I would move it where the fiberglass is in good shape maybe little to the side.
I have not had any problem with my 07 H-36 step.

 

[AndyL]

Thanks - that sounds like the best option. I'll make a new hole and fill the old damaged hole.

 

[senang]

I through bolted 4 long bolts. Drilled from the seat side inside the black lines of the flexi teak glued on that side. Bolts are har€ly noticeable. On the other side countersunk the nuts in the white plastic.

 

[chuckwayne]

good ideas... I also drilled 3/8" holes in the seat back - the lowest point of the inside of the seat when it's down - so it isn't full of water when you try to lift it