Transom Davit Maintenance

[Dan Mapes]

We've had Freedom since '99 and we are pretty confident that the transom davit was installed a few years prior. I was never really thrilled with the installation job but over all the transom davit was the best solution for us.
Anyway, we bought a heavier dink and due to some flex in the transom when launching or retrieving it, I elected to tow it where ever we went. As well the knuckle head that installed the davit used steel bolts. There are a couple of SS bolts but 80% are plain steel and obviously they rusted. So replacing them has been a priority as well.


It's a damn good thing I towed the dink. After removing as much of the interior as I dared today I went after one of bolts to see how the job was going to progress tomorrow.

Working from the inside, I was able to wiggle the bolt a little and finally it broke loose from the 5200 (I thought).



The bolt snapped off (note the diameter lost due to corrosion). I can't wait to see what the core in the transom under the davit hinge pad looks like. We can all assume the other end of the bolt has welded itself to the aluminum hinge pad.

Plenty of room to work behind the queen aft head board (not).



Maybe this board will pull out easily note the gap between the board and the glass. I am thinking a little 5200 is all they used.



I picked a fine day to stop drinking.

 

[magnawake]

I saw that plenty of room comment and thought "WHAT", then read the Not. ha ha. Yep, its tight. Good luck.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Dan, you can find 316 SS bolts on McMaster's web site. Keep in mind that plain steel is actually stronger and more ductile than stainless, so if you want to replace them all with SS, you might have to go up in size- as well as repairing the core in there. Good luck on this one, you'll earn your stripes on it.

 

[Dan Mapes]

Jim thanks. I was thinking I would be upping the diameter anyway. By the time I get the hinge foot cleaned up it will probably happen.

BTW Fastenal has a reference that talks to 316 bolts 1/4 to 5/8 having more than enough tinsel strength to handle this load. Especially since there are 4 bolts in each foot.

Hopefully the feet pry out of the transom clean because of the snapping bolt scenario. Then there is the winch. I intend to remove it and send the davit out for powder coat. Hopefully the winch supports look ok and reassemble that way.

 

[jim rosenthal]

It's going to be a bit of a task, isn't it.

Make sure to look at McMaster for new bolts. I have had better luck with them than Fastenal- seems like a lot of the stuff Fastenal sells doesn't hold up too well. McMaster-Carr will usually have it on your porch the next morning, they are VERY efficient and their web site is very well set up for ordering.

 

[Dan Mapes]

Yes it will be a chore. Tomorrow I should have a handle on just how much of a chore it will be.

 

[Dan Mapes]

This was a good day. The davit came off well with the help of a friend. We backed off all of the nuts on the inside, and low and behold 4 of eight rusty bolts backed of the outside out using a ratchet. With a pry bar and a block of wood we were able to wiggle the hinge feet and star board shim off the transom without taking the paint with it. It may have been life caulk though.

And the great news is that the core is fine! Plus any bolts that were seized into the hinge feet and hanging points on the davit came out with a few whacks and some heat. Then the plywood backer board inside fell off as well!

So today I consider myself really lucky. First I had some great help, and second we didn't inflict any damage to the boat or davit and it has been sent out for powder coat.

It was certainly a good idea to go after this. Most of the steel bolts had deteriorated over 50% at the shear point.

 

[gbharrington]

Powder coating comes in various grades so make sure that you get an outdoor rated powder (TGIC or better)

 

[Dan Mapes]

Oops. Oh well. I am going to hope on this one. It was sandblasted today and then going into the oven.

In any event, it's going to look better (and hopefully for several years).

I will say, anyone that has a davit that has not pulled apart their winch in 10 years better have a look.

 

[Dan Mapes]

So the davit has been powder coated and it came out really close to matching the boat vs. the white coat that was on it previously.

Sand blasted clean, and powder coated for 318 bucks including sales tax. I am ok with this. I was thinking I could multi purpose it into a coffee table until I get around to installing it again. The S.O. is skeptical so if anyone has ideas on how to bribe her bring 'em on.