Inspection hatch for chainplates for wood strip interior. Or quick removal fasteners.

[cadmus]

The interior of my boat hull is old fashioned wood (pine) strips (furring, lathe) over glassed in cedar strips (transverse). Bronze screws. I have removed most all of the upper 2 feet to inspect (exterior) chain plates and wiring. It sure would be nice to have inspection hatches or a faster fastener so future inspections and maintenance would be faster. Especially since the cabinetry and trim that holds the wood strips in is all teak molding/trim with many teak bunged screws that now need to be replaced.


What fasteners have people used to make interior strips easier to remove? I was looking for quarter turn fasteners common on airplanes or race cars but, I could not find appropriate insets (base that receives the quarter turn quick screw). Nor do i see materials that look to be marine grade.


Does anyone have photos of chainplate inspection hatches they made in wood strip interiors?




Thanks in advance for the help



Keywords: interior inspection chainplate hatch furring lathe screws fasteners wood strips pine

[Bill O]

In a previous boat I made chain plates, stanchion bases, etc. accessible w/ removable wood panel sections. All except for 4 screws were bunged for easy removal. Nothing fancy.

Sorry no pics, but just make it "blend in" to the rest of the wood pieces. In general, many aren't that observant so they will never notice them unless you point them out.

[tkeithlu]

Screw removal and replacement has gotten a whole bunch quicker and easier since the invention of the 1/4" hex battery impact driver. You might consider stainless steel screws with Torx heads -- they don't strip easily. Then minimize the number necessary to remove and re-set as Bill O suggests.

Heres an example of the screws:

https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Ste.../dp/B01CBWVB52

and here is my hero, the tool most frequently in my hand:

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCF885...0755114&sr=8-5

[GordMay]

Google can be your friend:
“quarter turn fasteners”
➥ https://www.google.ca/search?q=quart...client=gws-wiz

[Smokeys Kitchen]

I did not get rid of the screws for things that need periodic removal, but I did not put the bungs back in. I used decorative washers in ss and brass

[Jim Cate]

Back in my race car days I used a lot of these:

https://southco.com/en_au_int/fasten...turn-fasteners

Perhaps they have something that you could use.

Jim

[Nicholson58]

I replaced my plates with GR 5 titanium. No more inspections.

External chain plates. What is to inspect?

[cadmus]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Back in my race car days I used a lot of these:

https://southco.com/en_au_int/fasten...turn-fasteners

Perhaps they have something that you could use.

Jim

Thanks.


Indeed, what you link to is what was going through my head. More so these from aircraft:
https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...s/04-03695.php
https://www.clarendonsf.com/products...turn-fasteners
https://aeromateriel.com/product-cat...urn-fasteners/

A hiccup in this effort, is most the time these grab a wire or fit in a slot or receptacle. I have the typical (in old wood carpentry style interior on a GRP hull) 3/4" ply or holly strip glassed (light woven) to the hull to which cabinetry and lath is screwed. I am (or was) looking for brass or stainless inserts (~3/4" deep) to accept these fitting. Any leads?
I guess what i am saying or missaying is in aircraft and race cars the fastener is not "blind" but in the case of my hull, it is. (?)


I also did not want to consider only this option if other had tried other ideas.

[cadmus]

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

External chain plates. What is to inspect?

I agree with this 90% of the time and I prefer external chain plates for this reason. Still nice to inspect bolts, foam, wires and mice hidden behind the wood lath/furring.

[cadmus]

Originally Posted by Smokeys Kitchen

I did not get rid of the screws for things that need periodic removal, but I did not put the bungs back in. I used decorative washers in ss and brass

Looks great.
is the screw (lath photo) threaded into a threaded insert? or into wood?