Doors Don't Fit

[tsl]

I'm refurbishing an O'day 39. It's had a tough life but it will find life easier with me.
I've stripped and refinished the interior. All doors were taken off last fall so they could be finished in the shop. I used Epifanes rubbed effect over 3 coats of gloss varnish. I like the look.
A few of the doors did not close properly prior to me removing them. The bulkheads are screwed to the tabbing and many of the screws are loose (not stripped) just loose. The boat showed some damage (deck cracks around the stanchions) on the starboard side.
The boat is on the hard with the stick on the ground.

My question: Do I wait until it's rigged and in the water before I cut and re-fit the doors and tighten the screws? I have seen anouther O'day 39 that the owner thru bolted the bulkheads. For light coastal cruising is this necessary, beneficial , or a waist of time? You all have been most helpful in past questions. Many thanks.

[Vasco]

I would wait until she's in the water. The hull may be a bit distorted right now.

[Capitain Mike]

Best wait.

[captain58sailin]

I would be concerned with the why; of how the screws came to be loose in the first place. I wouldn't try to fit the doors before going in the water. You could have some structural issues that need to be addressed.

[Capitain Mike]

Are the screw a a copper colour and have lost the sharp edges to the thread are they loose in the holes.

[tsl]

Originally Posted by Capitain Mike

Are the screw a a copper colour and have lost the sharp edges to the thread are they loose in the holes.

Screws are stainless. Just need to be snugged up a turn or two.

[Capitain Mike]

Originally Posted by tsl

Screws are stainless. Just need to be snugged up a turn or two.

OK I was wondering why they came loose in the first place. are they the original screws threaded all the way to the head (You think) or replacements for brass?

[tsl]

Originally Posted by Capitain Mike

OK I was wondering why they came loose in the first place. are they the original screws threaded all the way to the head (You think) or replacements for brass?

My guess is that they came loose in the nearly 30 years of use. It's reasonable that no one ever tightened them.

I have an O'day 22 same stainless screws just as loose.

[captain58sailin]

You may want to coat them with epoxy before reseating, perhaps you can prevent them from loosening again. Loose screws would indicate there is movement.

[Capitain Mike]

Originally Posted by tsl

My guess is that they came loose in the nearly 30 years of use. It's reasonable that no one ever tightened them.

I have an O'day 22 same stainless screws just as loose.

How often have you tightened loose wood screws in your house? once they are in they are in and sometimes you must tighten them a fraction before you can unscrew them. (Speaking as a joiner for 30 years).

Either the holes were predrilled with an oversize drill bit.
The timber the screws go into is very thin.
The screws are not tapered. These are useless. http://www.tradefixdirect.com/fimg/8...rsunk-pozi.jpg
The shank of the wood screw (tapered) is the same length (nearly) as the thickness of the wood.

[forsailbyowner]

LOL , Most production boats do a LOT of moving in a seaway. Especially with the manufacterers tendency to try for the wide open feel below. Before I added a complete bulkhead between the galley and setee Magic used to creak and groan something fierce in big seas. In one particularly rough gulf stream crossing plywood was spitting out splinters on to the quarter berth. My brothers hunter 460 does a bunch of groaning and creaking while anchored in a light chop. This is normal. I wouldnt do any mods until on the water. Hull distortion is the norm when hauling and blocking, thus the recommendation to realign the engine at each haul out.

[Blue Stocking]

I check headstay tension by whether or not Blue's fore'n aft head door jams at the top. Mast is deck stepped, base straddles the door.