Head Question

[Freesail99]

I need some advise.

I need to drill new holes in the floor pan in my head to install my new head. My question is this, what kind of fasteners to use being that I can not get my hand under the head to hold the bolt while tightening the nut. I thought about using those fasteners that are used on sheet rock where the toggle folds in half to fit threw the hole. Trouble is I have never seen them in stainless. Any ideas outside of removing 52 ( I counted them ) screws to remove the floor pan ?

Why is a head called a head ?

[Hobos]

What kind of material will you be drilling, and how thick?

[Freesail99]

Fiberglass pan, about 1/2 inch thick.

[J36ZT]

How about this idea:

1. Use a piece of sheet metal between the head and the floorpan.
2. Cut the holes in the floorpan in keyhole style.
3. When you tighten the bolts, elevate them so the nuts (and washers if used) will enguage enough to facilitate the torque desired.
4. Finish up by placing a couple of screws through the sheet metal and into the floorpan so there is no way the bolts can shift.

Just an idea...

[Hobos]

Red Head anchors may work. They are typically used in concrete, they will expand as they are drawn tight. Be careful with the torque. Rivet nuts may also work. Install the same as rivets, but are threaded to accept a bolt. It may take a special tool depending on the size of bolt. McMaster-Carr catalog. No affilation.

[ebs001]

Red Heads are meant only for concrete and are typically the anchor portion is about 2 inches long. I used 3/8" lag bolts. If the substrate is not thick enough you can glue a piece of starboard down first using PL5000 or something similsir then screw through it and the fiberglass.

[Freesail99]

This is the Fastener that I was thinking of using.


Toggle Bolts

[ronsunni]

You can use stainless #12 screws and Toggler Hollow wall anchors. The anchors are made of a polypropylene and are very strong.

TOGGLER® Toggle Bolts, Anchors, Fasteners

[ereuter]

The thing with toggle bolts is that you lose the nut if you ever have to remove the screw.

I just Googled "stainless toggle bolt", and found this: SNAPTOGGLE Plated 10 Per Bag

Looks like it leaves a little collar on the outside, so you can remove and reinsert the screw. I've never heard of or tried these, but they look interesting.

Eric

[steelboat]

Take a piece of 3/4" marine ply maybe twice as large as the base of the head, or more depending on access. Cut to shape, radius the corners and edges with a router, and seal it with 2 coats of epoxy. Now mark the head base bolt pattern on it, and drill and tap (yes tap) for at least 5/16 flat head bolts. Countersink the underside for the flat heads. Put a mixture of thickened epoxy on the bottom 3/4" of the bolts, and tread them up tight from the underside, so their heads are below flush. Then epoxy and screw that piece of ply into the fibreglass pan. Paint. You're left with 4 studs on which to set the head, with flat washers, locks, and nuts on top. Tapping the plywood sounds wierd but when the epoxy goes off you're left with 4 studs which aren't going anywhere, and the countersunk flat heads spread the load very well.
Good luck. Best, Bob S/V Restless