Fixing to deck pulled out

[ben373]

Looking for ideas. Screws for my dodger have pulled through. Larger screws have been used but also pulled through.

The fibreglass here is reasonably thin and I cannot get to the underside. There is also a void of a few inches so cannot fill.

I have tried filiing with an epoxy and then drilling and tapping but it was not strong. I need something like an anchor screw but cannot find in stainless.

Any ideas?


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[Reefmagnet]

Maybe epoxy glue and screw pads over the existing screw locations and re-attach the dodger to the pads?

[farm sail]

Do you have enough room behind the fiberglass that you could install a blind backer board. Where you make a square hole and slip a rectangular chunk through the hole and epoxy/screw that in place. Then you got someemeat to screw into. I used that trick many times to repair a smaller hole I drywall. Might work for you if you have room that you just can't get to

[Sailmonkey]

How about these?

https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/50845

Downside is the large hole needed to insert them.


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[jibstay]

I switched to these:

http://www.sailrite.com/YKK-SNAD-40m...ked-Domed-Stud




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[bsurvey]

stainless steel pop rivets, you can rent the gun from west marine

[Rick Williams]

use a fixture that requires 4 or more screws and epoxy it to the deck for good measure. Make one from rigid fiberglass if you can't buy one, rough up the deck underneath and use epoxy and screws. The epoxy joint won't give up if you do it right.
You can buy small pieces of 1/4" rigid fiberglass sheets from Defender:
Current G10 (FR-4 Flame Rated) Fiberglass Board 1/4" Thick

[JoelVannordel]

II have seen rivnuts used in this case. instead of using the rivet functionality, you could epoxy them in place as I am not sure how the notching would work in fiberglass.

[jhulmer]

Rivet nuts will work. McMaster Carr has them in 304 SS.

Take a look:
McMaster-Carr

[jibstay]

Originally Posted by jibstay

I switched to these:

http://www.sailrite.com/YKK-SNAD-40m...ked-Domed-Stud

Attachment 110982


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My mistake. You're talking about the frame attachment points.
I thought you were referring to the dodger fabric.


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[Lepke]

You could fill most of the void with 2 part expanding foam with epoxy filling the last inch or so under the "reasonably thin" fiberglass.

[hamburking]

First, take pictures of the dodger from every angle.

Then undo every screw attaching the dodger to the boat, and carefully move the dodger ashore.

Next, post the pictures on kijiji, under boat accessories. When you sell the dodger, use the money to buy a really nice bottle of booze...and drink it.

When you sober up, fill in the holes on deck before it rains.

[JPA Cate]

ben 373,

Not an easy fix, especially if you have both sides to repair. Reefmagnet's solution might be made to work for you. If you use timber for the pads, after you've drilled the pilot holes for the screws, soak the whole pad in a bath of penetrating epoxy, and let it cure. After it's cured, bond the pads to the sides. Paint to match hull color. Install dodger, and hope for the best. Otherwise, you're going to have to open it up from below, and install backing plates; and that may really have unanticipated consequences, might want a response in writing from Beneteau on that one.

Ann

You'll want to shorten the frame by the height of the pad so that everything will still fit.