Hello all, After checking out some Oyster Sailboats at the last couple Annapolis Boat Shows. I noticed that their cabin soles/floors are screwed down in sections (Just like recent Hunters). Oyster went one step further in their design. They included these conical washers that were most likely glued into the counter sunk hole in the wood floor. Thus removing and attaching the flat-head screws caused no ware and tear on the wood sole. Plus they really looked nice, and added to their level of fit and finish that I have seen on NO OTHER BOAT. So that was a couple years ago. I said to myself that I would use the same washers on my boat. After looking for two long years I finally found these washers. I also found that they are super rare, as only piano manufactures are about the only people that used them, and they used plain steel ones, yuk. The search continued. Leads for followed, samples were mailed to me. But I could still not find any washers that looked like what I saw on the Oyster. I then contacted Oyster (Over seas on the phone, yuk) After many minutes I gave up since no one there knew where they got those washers from. Finally after two long years of shifting through the Thomas Registry I found a company that made these washers. The problem was that they had a minimum order of 100,000 units. Even though I have a Hunter 54, I don't think I would need that many. I might even have a couple left over. So the search continued, the trail was getting warmer and I finally found them. This manufacture required a smaller minimum order. Now I know why no other boat manufactures put these on their boats. They are almost unattainable. So to help recoup my cost if anyone would like some of these "rare" washers just send a check and return address and I'll part with some of these babies. $0.20 each. They are nickel plated brass. I have #8 and #10 sizes. Email me at shasen@mindspring.com for more info. Attached is a picture of what they look like. Stirling Hasen
- Status
Try Mc Master Carr
Stirling, Try this. Look up McMaster-Carr online. Search their site for "Stainless Non Serrated Bellville Washer". I belive you can get this to work for you. They also have a countersunk finishing cup washer that might work upside down to do what you want. Check it out they have many configurations. good luck, Mike D
Stirling, Try this. Look up McMaster-Carr online. Search their site for "Stainless Non Serrated Bellville Washer". I belive you can get this to work for you. They also have a countersunk finishing cup washer that might work upside down to do what you want. Check it out they have many configurations. good luck, Mike D
Nope, those won't work.
Hi Mike, Those washers won't be a good choice in this application. Remember the right tool for the right job, in this case the right washer for the right application. After buying a bunch of $200.00 per sheet teak & holly I want to protect it! At the same time I thought I could help out other Hunter owners preserve their expensive floors. Yes I searched all through McMaster-Carr. I also became somewhat of a washer semi-expert in the process. The Belleville washers are only slightly conical, a degree or two. They are more for a lock washer application. Not a 82 degree conical shape to match most flat head screws. The Cup washers are not conical, they are shaped more like a frisbee. They are used in electrical terminal blocks. They also have an opening and if used in this application would most likely cut your foot. Regular finishing washers won't work because: 1, they would be above the plane of the wood. 2, if you sunk them down in the floor so that they would be in the same plane, using a forstner drill you would damage the wood, which we are trying to prevent by using conical washers. 3, they won't work upside down the concave cross-section would then be convex, and a flat head wouldn't be flush with it.
Hi Mike, Those washers won't be a good choice in this application. Remember the right tool for the right job, in this case the right washer for the right application. After buying a bunch of $200.00 per sheet teak & holly I want to protect it! At the same time I thought I could help out other Hunter owners preserve their expensive floors. Yes I searched all through McMaster-Carr. I also became somewhat of a washer semi-expert in the process. The Belleville washers are only slightly conical, a degree or two. They are more for a lock washer application. Not a 82 degree conical shape to match most flat head screws. The Cup washers are not conical, they are shaped more like a frisbee. They are used in electrical terminal blocks. They also have an opening and if used in this application would most likely cut your foot. Regular finishing washers won't work because: 1, they would be above the plane of the wood. 2, if you sunk them down in the floor so that they would be in the same plane, using a forstner drill you would damage the wood, which we are trying to prevent by using conical washers. 3, they won't work upside down the concave cross-section would then be convex, and a flat head wouldn't be flush with it.
Reposting of Pic of an Oyster example.
Thanks for the email Mike, I didn't know users were having a hard time seeing this Oyster photo. It seemed to work fine from home. Here is a 2nd attempt at posting this picture of the Oyster, showing their use of similar washers, though I think they used pure brass.
Thanks for the email Mike, I didn't know users were having a hard time seeing this Oyster photo. It seemed to work fine from home. Here is a 2nd attempt at posting this picture of the Oyster, showing their use of similar washers, though I think they used pure brass.
Attachments
Be careful removing your cabin sole screws!
Hello All, I received an email from another user regarding his cabin sole. I thought I would share part of it since we can all benefit from this information. "I have a 420 and have chipped a piece of the veneer a couple of times when I have removed the screws. I have glued the pieces back, but this sounds like an ideal solution." I'm only guessing as to why the veneer might chip. What I think might be happening is that the screw is counter sunk below the veneer, and that part of the veneer is actually above the screw. When the screw is removed the veneer rises with it thus chipping the veneer. I enclosed a diagram of what I think might be happening. Again I'm only guessing as my floors were bunged. But I also looked at the picture I posted on the "A new Hunter floor with just screws." post. If you look at the attached picture you will see that the bottom left screw seems to be countersunk deeper than the rest. Has any one else had this problem with chipping the veneer when removing these screws?
Hello All, I received an email from another user regarding his cabin sole. I thought I would share part of it since we can all benefit from this information. "I have a 420 and have chipped a piece of the veneer a couple of times when I have removed the screws. I have glued the pieces back, but this sounds like an ideal solution." I'm only guessing as to why the veneer might chip. What I think might be happening is that the screw is counter sunk below the veneer, and that part of the veneer is actually above the screw. When the screw is removed the veneer rises with it thus chipping the veneer. I enclosed a diagram of what I think might be happening. Again I'm only guessing as my floors were bunged. But I also looked at the picture I posted on the "A new Hunter floor with just screws." post. If you look at the attached picture you will see that the bottom left screw seems to be countersunk deeper than the rest. Has any one else had this problem with chipping the veneer when removing these screws?
I now can offer Stainless Steel washers!
Hello Everyone, Due to all of the interest in these washers, I had enough money along with my own to meet the manufacturer's huge minimum order amount for a new run of #10 Stainless Steel washers. I thought it would be weeks until I saw them, but they arrived today. I'm still waiting on the Nickel Plated Brass #8s as they come from a different source, I'll keep you posted when some more #8's arrive. Those of you that I have already sent #10 Nickel Plated washers to, I sent you an email, since you didn't have the stainless steel option when you ordered, I'll be sending you out an equivalent amount of #10 stainless steel washers free. It was everyone's help that we were able to get some stainless steel washers made. Thank You! Oh Yeah, I now have enough stainless steel washers for every Hunter ever made, and a lifetime to try to get rid of them. So you now have three types to choose from, all are $0.20 each. Please include a $1.00 for shipping. #8's Nickel Plated Brass (On order and in transit) #10's Nickel Plated Brass #10's Stainless Steel Payment options are Pay Pal using shasen@mindspring.com Or just send me an email and I'll send you my address for check / money orders. Stirling Hasen
Hello Everyone, Due to all of the interest in these washers, I had enough money along with my own to meet the manufacturer's huge minimum order amount for a new run of #10 Stainless Steel washers. I thought it would be weeks until I saw them, but they arrived today. I'm still waiting on the Nickel Plated Brass #8s as they come from a different source, I'll keep you posted when some more #8's arrive. Those of you that I have already sent #10 Nickel Plated washers to, I sent you an email, since you didn't have the stainless steel option when you ordered, I'll be sending you out an equivalent amount of #10 stainless steel washers free. It was everyone's help that we were able to get some stainless steel washers made. Thank You! Oh Yeah, I now have enough stainless steel washers for every Hunter ever made, and a lifetime to try to get rid of them. So you now have three types to choose from, all are $0.20 each. Please include a $1.00 for shipping. #8's Nickel Plated Brass (On order and in transit) #10's Nickel Plated Brass #10's Stainless Steel Payment options are Pay Pal using shasen@mindspring.com Or just send me an email and I'll send you my address for check / money orders. Stirling Hasen
Another Testimonial, & I called Hunter Today.
Hello Everyone, I received the #8's I ordered last week today. I have plenty of all sizes now. I wanted to share a letter from Tony, "Hello Stirling, ---------------- Again, great idea & Hunter Marine should definitely take this into consideration. I know because on the last boat we had the teak & holly sole around all the screws were damaged due to removing & replacing the floor boards. Take care & good sailing !" Thanks Tony, you inspired me to contact Hunter. I talked to Al, who was great and very helpful. He walked me through the whole process. Plus he's going to help me track down a replacement for my H54's rudder packing box. What service! I'm going to try to talk to purchasing and see if I can send them some samples. Maybe they can check these washers out and hopefully incorporate them on their boats from now on.
Hello Everyone, I received the #8's I ordered last week today. I have plenty of all sizes now. I wanted to share a letter from Tony, "Hello Stirling, ---------------- Again, great idea & Hunter Marine should definitely take this into consideration. I know because on the last boat we had the teak & holly sole around all the screws were damaged due to removing & replacing the floor boards. Take care & good sailing !" Thanks Tony, you inspired me to contact Hunter. I talked to Al, who was great and very helpful. He walked me through the whole process. Plus he's going to help me track down a replacement for my H54's rudder packing box. What service! I'm going to try to talk to purchasing and see if I can send them some samples. Maybe they can check these washers out and hopefully incorporate them on their boats from now on.
- Status