Replacing 1991 Hunter Passage 42 line brakes

[Paul Cossman]

My 1991 Passage 42 line brakes have basically corroded away. I need to replace both the starboard and port units. Does anyone know if there is an aluminum support embedded in the deck where the line brakes are located? I would need to drill and tap into it in order to have adequate support for the replacement line clutch system.

I inspected the underside of the deck (between the deck and the headliner) with a fiberoptic tool, and the machine screws for the original line brakes do not have backplating, nor are there nuts on the screws underneath the deck where the line brakes are affixed.

I recently replaced my primary winch and I was surprised to find that although the deck is thick, there is no aluminum plating where the winches are located. This makes me question whether there is aluminum underneath the line brakes.

Thanks,
Paul Cossman

 

[kappykaplan]

I think you're asking about line clutches:

 

[Tally Ho]

Typical to through-bolt winches with backing plates, and the rope clutches screwed into an aluminum plate in the fiberglass. Since you have inspected and found no nuts or backing plates under the clutches, I think you have confirmed the use of the threaded plate in the deck.

Greg

 

[JoeWhite]

Remove the 2 screws or bolts and remove the clutch. Screw in the bolts only and perform a continuity test between the bolts using a voltmeter. It will indicate the existence of an embedded backing plate.

 

[Terry Cox]

Hi Paul. Not one to stake my life on it, but I believe the sheet stoppers (clutches) do screw into an aluminum plate.

 

[Paul Cossman]

Thanks to all for your replies. I'm really after whether anyone actually knows whether or not there are aluminum plates under those rope clutches in the Hunter Passage 42. I guess a distant second question would be the parameters of such a plate; i.e., length and width.

Greg, I understand and appreciate your reasoning, but like me, you are surmising the existence of plates based upon what you'd expect. Like you, I'd expect backplates under the primary winch, but there were none. It is indeed possible that Hunter just screwed those fasteners into the deck underneath the line clutches. That just does seem unlikely to me.

Joe, you have a great idea, and I like it. But unfortunately the screws for the line clutches are totally corroded in place and I cannot dislodge them (and I've tried many things). My plan was to just grind off the tops of them and put new line clutches over the top of them and drill/tap new holes for new bolts. I really don't want to start destructive work unless I know I can make it work (since I now at least have functioning line clutches, even if they aren't "pretty" and don't have complete throws).

Terry, great to hear from you!! Like you, I seem to have a memory of somebody (sometime, somewhere) telling me there are aluminum plates in there. (But my memory is less and less reliable these days). But I also think that without a plate, those line clutches would have pulled loose a long time ago. Moreover, if there is no aluminum plate, what exactly are those stainless steel screws corroded into that makes them so anchored in place? The primary winch bolts came off easy as you may please (since they were neither screwed into an embedded aluminum plate nor backplated).

Thanks all for your thoughts!

Cheers,
Paul

 

[JoeWhite]

Another way to determine the existence of a backing plate without removing anything is to conduct the continuity test between two different clutches that are in the same location but not touching each other. The backing plate is likley one large piece below.

 

[jssailem]

I am a see it, confirm it type of boat repair guy. I’d remove the screws on the old clutch stick a dental pick into the screw hole. If the screws are fine threaded I would suspect a threaded plate in the fiberglass. You might be able to run a tap into the holes and verify.

Either way a threaded hole into metal that lets the screw threads stick out beneath the deck would provide a path for water to get into the boat and stay hidden behind the internal shell.

I like the ability to put butyl around the bolt and screw hole to reduce the possibility of water intrusion seeping under the clutch.

Bedding Deck Hardware With Bed-IT Tape - Marine How To

 

[Paul Cossman]

Thanks all for your time and responses. Yesterday I started to dig into the job and decided to shelve it. it requires the removal of 8 stainless steel bolts that are corroded/galled into an aluminum housing. Then the unscrewing of 8 stainless steel machine screws from the (almost certain) embedded aluminum plate in the decking. That's just way too much effort and uncertainty to get started on while I'm out cruising this season. Then this season will merge into the next season when we make our passage from NZ to Fiji. Then the voyage back at the end of that season, and the start again of the NZ cruising season. Etc.

I guess I'll get to it when I have to. But right now it's still functioning adequately for my purposes.......