first230sl
Active member
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2005
- Messages
- 145
- Hatteras Model
- 58' YACHT FISHERMAN (1970 - 1981)
Hi everyone. On my 58 yachtfish I have a swim platform mounted to the transom on 4 mounting struts. The struts are bolted to the transom - each has two bolts above the waterline and two below.
On the two outside struts, access to the nuts inside the lazarrette is fine. I can remove and replace those. On the two inside struts, access is completely blocked by the glassed-in watertank There is absolutely no way to get to the inside of the hull where those bolts come through.
I noticed a couple of the bolts (on the outside struts) were bleeding a bit of water into the boat. When I went to remove them for rebedding, two were in perfect condition, and two immediately snapped off - the bolts were completely corroded. Heads looked perfect - corrosion was on the shank just under the head.
My question is - does anyone know whether, on the 58, there is backing material of some sort behind the aft water tank? I don't want to experiment by trying to loosen one of the bolts in case I am unable to tighten it. I may be forced to one day if those bolts break or start leaking - but if I knew what was back there I'd prefer to replace them now, before a problem develops.
If no one knows - no problem - I'll work it out. But if someone has experience with this - it would be really helpful and might let me replace those bolts now - and possibly save me a ton of work. I'd hate to loosen one and either hear a nut drop off in a completely inaccessible location, to find that the nut spins and I can't re-tighten it. If I *know* there is good backing material that is either tapped, or that I can sink a screw into - then I'd do it now.
Thanks!
Murray
P.S. - almost done rebedding the rudder ports. I'll post a comple pics when I am done. The boat goes back in the water Monday. The only real shocker thus far was the $350 Canadian I had to pay for the bolts (8 plus 4 spares), shipping, etc. For you Americans that's about ten bucks. (Seriously - it is about $280). I am glad I did't have to replace anything more major.
On the two outside struts, access to the nuts inside the lazarrette is fine. I can remove and replace those. On the two inside struts, access is completely blocked by the glassed-in watertank There is absolutely no way to get to the inside of the hull where those bolts come through.
I noticed a couple of the bolts (on the outside struts) were bleeding a bit of water into the boat. When I went to remove them for rebedding, two were in perfect condition, and two immediately snapped off - the bolts were completely corroded. Heads looked perfect - corrosion was on the shank just under the head.
My question is - does anyone know whether, on the 58, there is backing material of some sort behind the aft water tank? I don't want to experiment by trying to loosen one of the bolts in case I am unable to tighten it. I may be forced to one day if those bolts break or start leaking - but if I knew what was back there I'd prefer to replace them now, before a problem develops.
If no one knows - no problem - I'll work it out. But if someone has experience with this - it would be really helpful and might let me replace those bolts now - and possibly save me a ton of work. I'd hate to loosen one and either hear a nut drop off in a completely inaccessible location, to find that the nut spins and I can't re-tighten it. If I *know* there is good backing material that is either tapped, or that I can sink a screw into - then I'd do it now.
Thanks!
Murray
P.S. - almost done rebedding the rudder ports. I'll post a comple pics when I am done. The boat goes back in the water Monday. The only real shocker thus far was the $350 Canadian I had to pay for the bolts (8 plus 4 spares), shipping, etc. For you Americans that's about ten bucks. (Seriously - it is about $280). I am glad I did't have to replace anything more major.
