Rebedding staunchions

[ozsailer]

Hello Everyone.
Well I finally got around to another chore and decided to rebed the staunchions and tighten all the bolts. Trouble started when I went to undo a number of the small bolts holding the base plate to deck and found they were just turning on themselves. When I finally got the bolts out (they are only 25mm long 6mm in diameter) it appeared they had only been threaded into the fibrglass and wiht no other fixing. Is this normal.
How do I fix the problem. I was considering drilling our a 1/2 inch hole, filling it with epoxy, wait till its cured then drill to take a 6mm thread and tap the hole, refit the bolt and refit the staunchion. I have not done this before so any suggestions would be greatfully recieved.


Greg and Sue
Lake Macquarie
Land Down under

[dvideohd]

Don Casey's book.... "This Old Boat"... or one of his other related books... Great HOW TOs.... If you had hit that thing - when it was needed - you could easily have went overboard... scary thought

--jerry

[floatsome]

I would consider doing the oversize epoxy and redrill, but then through-bolt with a metal backing plate on the under side, not screw into the epoxy.

[trantor12020]

do you have access to under the stanchion? if yes, try getting a longer bolt and tighten with backing washers and nuts. otherwise is there embeded metal plate? if yes, try re-taping it next larger size and get new sets of bolts.

[NOLAsailing]

Hi Greg and Sue - you have to right idea. Also, I think all stanchions should have backing plates.

Although I'm sure you know this, be sure to use a quality sealant when you rebed the stanchions. I recommend 3M 101.