The blocks I'm dealing with are mounted (on swivels) to the gunwales on either side of the cockpit, near the transom (that's my Widgeon's traveler, right?). They may, at one time, have had a backing plate, but they were mounting using screws, not bolts - so I think they were probably just screwed in. Unless, (travesty of justice theory here) O'day mounted the fittings before attaching deck/cockpit to hull! Possible, but not likely I think, because it leads to this.... Now, the mounting plates that these blocks are attached to can be easily pulled out, I believe, because the screws no longer "bite" into the fibreglass. I'm 6'5", but my arms aren't long enough to reach thru the cuddy cabin in the bow, down the length of the cockpit, to hold a new backing plate and locknuts in place. So, I'm looking for an alternative, short of cutting a couple of holes in the cockpit. Does this explanation help y'all prescribe the cure?
