Replacing Deck Hardware by Myself

Oct 5, 2022
3
San Juan 24 Portland
I'm sure this has been asked and answered many times but my searches are failing me.

Is there a way to replace deck hardware by myself? I want to pull, butyl tape, and reseat some jib tracks. The weather sucks and I don't want to coerce a friend to help. Is it possible to do it solo?

Chris
 
Jan 4, 2006
7,027
Hunter 310 West Vancouver, B.C.
Usually doing a job solo takes about six times as long as doing it with two people.

On through bolted jib tracks, duct tape the nuts under the holes and then catch them with the bolts from the top. Once the nuts are all in place and lightly taken up, put an open end wrench on a nut, tape the end of the wrench to the cabin top and lightly tighten each one to squeeze the butyl out evenly for a good seal. If you can borrow a few of the right sized wrenches, so much the better. You'll see all sorts of variations depending on whether some of the nuts hold and don't turn.
 
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Aug 19, 2019
44
C&C 25 mk2 Seneca Lake
Tough job for one person, especially when tightening things down. I recommend enlisting some help at least for the re-install. Removal can be done on your own, using a vise grip on the nut and turning the bolt from above, but it goes a lot faster with a helper. ]

When installing, turn the nuts, not the bolt. Turning the bolt will pull sealant into the threads, providing a path for moisture intrusion. Have a helper hold the bolt in place with a screwdriver while tightening nut from below. Tip: deep sockets are really helpful for this.

Additionally, there may be other issues that you should be prepared for. For starters, if there are any holes that are through a cored deck, they deserve a careful inspection to ensure they have been properly "potted" (drilled oversized, filled with epoxy and drilled through for bolt size). It's likely that a spongy deck or leaks would have already alerted you to this possiblility, but ya' never know! Poke around and fix it right if you need to.

Are the tracks curved? If so this can also be a hassle as they will want to straighten as bolts are loosened and resist bending when installing. When installing mine I made some templates from plywood that wedged in between the toe rail and the track, holding it in place as I installed the hardware.

Bedding hardware is pretty basic, but there are some details one should abide by. For instance, make sure all holes are countersinked - this provides a space for the sealant to form a seal and helps prevent spidercracks emanating from a hole when hardware is (over) tightened.

Be sure to check this site for other threads as there are many related to rebedding deck hardware. And of course... Bed-it Butyl tape is my go-to for jobs like this as many will attest to it's outstanding performance and ease of use.
 
Jan 7, 2011
5,256
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
It is harder, but maybe not impossible…

I have rebed stanchions, installed winches, replaced hand holds bolted through the deck, etc. by myself.

I bought 4 sets of vice grips, different sizes, that I can clamp on to a bolt or screw head to hold the fastener while I am below putting the nuts on. Or vice versa…depending on the situation. My stanchions are bolted through the deck with hex-head bolts. I can put 4 sets of vice grips on them and remove all 4 nuts down below. Pretty painless. My mid-ship cleats are through bolted with large Phillips head screws…that are recessed. So there I had to use a wrench or vice grips to hold the nuts under the deck, and unscrew the screws from above. Not terrible, but when went to reinstall, I solicited a friend to hold the screwdriver so I could thread the nuts on from below and not mess up the butyl tape.

Greg
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,239
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
As stated:
A friend's help can lighten the load.

Put the friend in the cabin and you brave the inclement weather on deck. Once done you can celebrate and commiserate about the task complete and the weather endured.

Rum helps to warm the body and cloud the mind of the misery endured while enjoying the friendship.

Note, when tightening the hardware using butyl, you want to pull the hardware against the butyl with minimal rotation of the bolt/screw as draw the hardware against the butyl or bedding caulk. That way you squeeze the bedding and minimize disturbing the bedding around the bolt/screw for a better bond.

Temps of the boat and air can limit the effectiveness of the bedding material to form a good seal. Check your product for the recommended temps. For Butyl "Bed-It-Tape" it needs to be above 65ºF to flow, in my experience.
 
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Nov 13, 2013
723
Catalina 34 Tacoma
I'm sure this has been asked and answered many times but my searches are failing me.

Is there a way to replace deck hardware by myself? I want to pull, butyl tape, and reseat some jib tracks. The weather sucks and I don't want to coerce a friend to help. Is it possible to do it solo?

Chris
Yes it's possible. Just find a way to secure the top or bottom nut from turning while you turn the opposite side. I do it with an open end wrench.
 
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Oct 5, 2022
3
San Juan 24 Portland
Thank you all.

Ended up putting the Admiral on deck, while I spent time head first in the quarterberth dealing with the nuts and stuff. Heated the butyl with a handwarmer, got it on and resealed and it isn't bad for a December rush job.

I shudder to think how my deck is as solid as it is, but I've only got so much I can worry about at once. So we'll just call it a boating miracle and plan on doing more hardware this spring correctly with epoxy and stuff.
 
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Jan 7, 2014
432
Beneteau 45F5 51551 Port Jefferson
Tried it by myself last Sunday on a leaking pad eye . The nuts just kept spinning - that's if I had the right ones. I'll need to try the vice grips or recruit my son next week.
 
Apr 11, 2020
766
MacGregor 26s Scott's Landing, Grapevine TX
+1 to the vice grip advice. Won't cover every situation, but I have found it covers most.
 
Sep 24, 2018
3,084
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
Here's an excerpt from a PM between @SailingLoto and myself regarding re-bedding:

"a few odd tools I found essential are a dough scraper (available at dollar tree) and a automotive trim removal tool. Both can be used under a fitting to help pry or pull it up. I've been doing this project solo so getting fasteners off from one side only has been essential. The scraper has been useful in protecting my ancient gelcoat and if I push it against the threads of the screw it'll help pull it up while I unscrew it. I've also used a knife or a fingernail if there isn't enough room to get the scraper in there. The trim/panel tool of course can be used to pull a fitting upwards but I've also been using it to pull the head of the screw up while using an impact driver. As you can imagine this pulls the nut against the fiberglass and is usually enough friction to keep it from spinning. "
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An electric impact gun with sockets, wobble extensions and adapters as well as vice grips and gorilla tape was essential. Gorilla tape and Bed-IT can be used to keep a fastener from spinning or keep it in place just long enough to thread the screw/bolt. You will lose fasteners. Do not try to save all of them as it will add a lot of extra time. Try to estimate the number and sizes of fasteners that need replacing and then assemble a kit. Bolt Barn and Bolt Depot have reasonably priced fittings. Since my boat is in fresh water I used zinc plated washers. Rust stains will tell me that there's a leak. For backing plates I would double up fender washers or for higher load areas I used Unistrut washers. They're very thick and will most likely outlast the boat.

I managed to do 98% of this solo. This project took all winter. I was at the yard almost everyday. Do not under estimate this project if you plan touching all the hardware
 
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