center console maintenenance
 

Hello CSC, need some advice on fastening console to deck. After winterizing boat this year i found screws on console loose. I have removed existing screws they are stainless 1" wood screws. I found stress cracks on all of the existing holes, so will be drilling oversize holes and filling with 6/10 west epoxy.I will say deck is solid all around. Looking for advice on screw size machine vs wood screw. Thank you.

There is one trick to working with screws in fiberglass that many folks don't know about: drill and tap the oversize/epoxy filled holes for MACHINE SCREWS! 1/4-20 ss screws have worked very well on my galley and pedestal seats. You can even use blue locktite to keep 'em tight. DON'T use wood/sheet metal or self tapping screws . . . vibration and relative motion between parts cause the sharp threads on cut into the glass!

this is correct - to a point,,,

first - if you're drilling thru something - you need the ability to hold that product in the hole - otherwise,gravity does it's thing...

wood:
when you you have access to the underside:

small hole saw - example,you want to use 1/4-20's - use a 1" hole saw.go through it,use a piece of painters tape - the good blue tape,tape underneath - fill the hole with a thickened expoxy - I like and use west system,with 403 adhesive additive...
once the epoxy kicks - locate where the fastener goes,drill a 3/16" hole - drop a shot of 3m 5200 over the hole and run that 1/4-20 in with a screw gun....it will thread the epoxy as it goes in - no need to "tap" anything !.the 3m 5200 will make it waterproof and keep the fastener tight...need to remove it ? use a screw gun - it'll back out


working with no access from underneath:

determine the thickness - slip a small section of tubing over a drill - setting the depth...
don't drill through the panel...drill the hole and fill the area with the thickened epoxy...

if the wood core is rotted - you're wasting your time !NONE of this will work !

composites - use a sharpened allen wrench - grind the short end into somewhat of a blade - slide this in the hole and remove some of the composite coring...fill with the thickened epoxy...use the same procedure I described above,concerning drilling and running holes...


ocean yacht used this technique for years

this technique is required for using fasteners in composites,when thru bolting/sleeving isn't possible...

Going to drill a couple of 3/4 " holes this weekend to check condition of wood core. The deck is original guessing it's balsa wood. The console flang sits over the big box stringers, I don't think I want to drill through them. Does anyone know if there is fiberglass under the core or is it just on top. Thank you for the advice on using machine screws.