I had a stanchion on my top deck that was a bit loose and one of the
bolts was just spinning. Thinking that I was going to find some rot
underneath, I pulled the bolts and base up. I found the the area
underneath (it's mounted on a "wall", about 3" high along the edge of
the top deck) was just a hollow cavity in the fiberglass. I'm assuming
now that the bolts were backed by washers and bolts which had loosened
over time, and have now fallen away when I pulled them out.
So now I have to figure out how to re-attach it. One of the bolts is
fine - it goes into solid fiberglass, but the other two are a question.
I have no access to the underside of this area. I'm thinking of trying
to use something like drywall anchors that I can tighten up and have
expand on the underside, but I'll need to find some that are the right
length (less than 2.5"), same thread as the 1/4" SS bolts, and hopefully
Stainless, so they won't rust, although there doesn't appear to be any
moisture in the cavity. I've found some zinc ones at the building
center that are close, I'm concerned about them rusting.
The only other option I can think of is to cut a 2-3" hole in the top of
the wall adjacent to the stanchion base, so I can get my fingers in to
put new bolts on the back, and then cap the hole.
Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Rob Grant
41' Canoe Cove, "RaeLeah"
Delta, BC
I had a stanchion on my top deck that was a bit loose and one of the
bolts was just spinning. Thinking that I was going to find some rot
underneath, I pulled the bolts and base up. I found the the area
underneath (it's mounted on a "wall", about 3" high along the edge of
the top deck) was just a hollow cavity in the fiberglass. I'm assuming
now that the bolts were backed by washers and bolts which had loosened
over time, and have now fallen away when I pulled them out.
So now I have to figure out how to re-attach it. One of the bolts is
fine - it goes into solid fiberglass, but the other two are a question.
I have no access to the underside of this area. I'm thinking of trying
to use something like drywall anchors that I can tighten up and have
expand on the underside, but I'll need to find some that are the right
length (less than 2.5"), same thread as the 1/4" SS bolts, and hopefully
Stainless, so they won't rust, although there doesn't appear to be any
moisture in the cavity. I've found some zinc ones at the building
center that are close, I'm concerned about them rusting.
The only other option I can think of is to cut a 2-3" hole in the top of
the wall adjacent to the stanchion base, so I can get my fingers in to
put new bolts on the back, and then cap the hole.
Any other suggestions would be appreciated.
Rob Grant
41' Canoe Cove, "RaeLeah"
Delta, BC
