Trailering eye on front keel of 20SF

[michaelgon]

So the tow/trailering eye on the keel of my 1970 20'SF has pulled out. Have any of you experienced this? What is the best way to access the backside of it?

[Blue197320]

you cant get to it from the anchor locker opening??

[michaelgon]

No access through anchor locker...I think I'm going to have to cut a check plate into the anchor locker

What year is it? I can't think of a 20SF that you can't get to the backside of the bow eye. ?? Maybe it has been modified?

[Blue197320]

pics might help.
i know on my 73 its no poblem to get to.

[michaelgon]

I looked through some of the pics I have of the boat and this is the best shot I have of the anchor locker...

I will try and get a better photo this afternoon. I was wondering if I would be best off going through the bottom of the anchor locker or through the front of the small hatch in the front deck? Based on everyone's responses it sounds like some of the tow eyes were installed prior to liner being set in the boat and others were after.

[mnwnvc]

I had to replace my eye on my 69- 20 and did it through a hole in the bottom of the anchor locker. The access hole was already there and covered with ply. The eye and the bow lifting ring used the same connection points. I think you will need more working room than a small access hatch will allow you. The eye was backed with wood glassed into the bow at time of manufacture. There was rot in my wood and I cut it all out and built up a thick section of glass and epoxy- no wood. I think if you measure on the outside of the bow to the eye and transfer that measurement to the inside you will see where your access point needs to be cut. Give yourself some working room when you cut the locker floor and glass it back in place after the repair.

[michaelgon]

Thank you all for your feed back! I spent some time yesterday messing around with the boat and actually removed the eye completely...come to find out, the U-bolt legs sheared off. It's tough to say if the backing is actually rotted out or if the Stainless has simply become brittle over the years like every other stainless screw in the boat!

This boat has been kept in a warehouse since new in 1970 and very well cared for. I've experienced various cases where screws are into solid material and the heads just pop off while running around in the boat (for example on ALL of my hatches). I'm beginning to wonder if the fix will be as easy as a removal of the inside half of the trailering eye and reinstallation and sealing of a new one through an inspection plate?

Will post photos of what I find.

[SeaPlusPlus]

Wow my 74' has about 2x the room in that forward box. It definitely is deeper, that looks like its level with the deck.

[Tiny]

You might not be willing to go this route but how about just putting it in there where you can see, above the floor of the anchor locker...not perfect, maybe a little high...but is anyone going to care? Probably not. Then fill the old holes with epoxy...done.

I went through the same thing...the problem is you have to cut a big whole, because of the angle the eye under the anchor locker floor...you'll see when you get in there.