Cal 28 MKII Rebedding Stanchion Amidships

[Chuck Collier]

I have a stanchion amidships on the port side that must be rebedded with caulk. I have removed the stanchion and now can't reach the chainplate to reattach the bolts with the nuts and washers. I am unable to reach the underside of the deck from below. There is no room for my medium sized hand.
Any ideas?

[Cheechako]

How did you get them off? I assume you mean you cant reach the backing plate? How about a box end wrench taped to a stick? Put the nut in the box end wrench with the back side of the box having tape on it to keep the nut from falling out. Have someone turn the bolt from above....? been there done that....

[Jake Tanley]

Try using butyl tape, not caulk. You seem to be using the term stanchion and chainplate interchangeably. All the chainplates are very accessible. If it's a stanchion, which one are you referring to?

[Chuck Collier]

Thanks for your replies.
I am referring to the stanchion at location B.
I should have used backing plate instead of chainplate. I removed the stanchion by simply unscrewing the bolt from the deck. The nuts didn't turn, having been in position for 27 years.
I was thinking of using a socket extension attached to a 1/4" deep socket to hold the nut and washer (glued together for the purpose of keeping them together while getting the nut threaded).
Any tips?
Thanks

[Jake Tanley]

You'll either need to be creative or have 2 people around, one on deck and one underneath. Try PB Blaster on the bolts before cranking too hard to undo them. Do not get any on the deck as it will stain.

If memory serves, you can follow the port water tank vent hose as a feeler to get close as you'll be doing some of it blind. Be careful as the strands of FB were not sanded up inside the hull there, what's left behind are are some pretty sharp edges. If you don't have it, get a universal joint for your socket. You'll need one anyway to tighten the nuts on your chainplates (which you should check and re-bed as they can work lose over time).



Also, see MaineSail's article on re-bedding hardware. You may/likely have core rot under the stanchion base which should be addressed now while you have the base off. He sells the butyl tape too.

Re-Bedding Deck Hardware Photo Gallery by Compass Marine at pbase.com

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Chuck Collier

Thanks for your replies.
I am referring to the stanchion at location B.
I should have used backing plate instead of chainplate. I removed the stanchion by simply unscrewing the bolt from the deck. The nuts didn't turn, having been in position for 27 years.
I was thinking of using a socket extension attached to a 1/4" deep socket to hold the nut and washer (glued together for the purpose of keeping them together while getting the nut threaded).
Any tips?
Thanks

Sounds like a plan, you could use nylok nuts and then dont have to deal with a washer. A deep socket may let the nut fall too deep into t he socket, but you can stuff TP or cotton etc in there to get the depth correct. Ah... the joys of simply putting a nut on a bolt on a boat!