Screws loosen in fiberglass - not stripped

[security6]

The screws that hold the captain's chair to the deck in my boat keep loosening. I can retighten them and they hold, so they are not stripped. However, after an outing or two they are loose again. The boat is a 2000 Larson Escape which has a fiberglass deck. The screws go directly into the fiberglass deck. Is there a "lock-tite" sort of compound that will work so these screws don't keep loosening?

 

[saildan]

Re: Screws loosen in fiberglass - not stripped

The screws that hold the captain's chair to the deck in my boat keep loosening. I can retighten them and they hold, so they are not stripped. However, after an outing or two they are loose again. The boat is a 2000 Larson Escape which has a fiberglass deck. The screws go directly into the fiberglass deck. Is there a "lock-tite" sort of compound that will work so these screws don't keep loosening?

Fastened just into the fiberglass, no backing plate or anchoring block that's dropped away?

Fill the holes with epoxy and re-drill them to the proper size for the screws like the chair was being installed for the first time.

 

[Philster]

Re: Screws loosen in fiberglass - not stripped

You can add some epoxy/filler to give the screw more bite.

Saying something "stripped" would apply to a male-thread-to-female-thread connection.

Essentially, they ain't stripped, but the fiberglass/wood/whatever is a tad to big for a tapping screw to bite. You need too make each hole a wee bit smaller.

If you remove and replace tapping screws again and again, nothing strips, per se, but the hole loses bite when it slightly enlarges.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Screws loosen in fiberglass - not stripped

Fill screw holes with epoxy to tighten up their grip, run a bead of silicone rubber around and under pedestal base, then re-attach the screws. Silicone will help level and hold pedestal in place.

 

[180Fisherman]

Re: Screws loosen in fiberglass - not stripped

If the screws are pulling out fix as described above. If you think they are just backing out from vibration or whatnot maybe some lock-tite will work

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Screws loosen in fiberglass - not stripped

or--fill the hole, drill out the hole, use a "tap and die" to thread the hole, install with bolts.

 

[ufm82]

Re: Screws loosen in fiberglass - not stripped

Do you have access to the underside of the deck? If the chairs are fastened with screws and you can access the underside I'd consider going to bolts and backing plates. My pedestals were screwed into the deck and were loose but I was able to get to the underside through the fuel sender access plate. I installed SS bolts into SS backing plates and they have never come loose again- very solid.

UFM82

 

[dingbat]

Re: Screws loosen in fiberglass - not stripped

Screws on a boat are a joke. Any load bearing connection should be thru bolted with backing plates.

 

[security6]

Re: Screws loosen in fiberglass - not stripped

Thanks for all the replies.

I'll have to see if I can access the underside of the deck where the screws are. There is an opening in the deck right above the gas tank that I have never removed. Perhaps it is time to take it off. I agree that if I can access it, I am best off with a backing plate and bolts.

For epoxy, would 3M 5200 work? If not, do I just pick up a fiberglass kit at the auto parts store?

 

[ufm82]

Re: Screws loosen in fiberglass - not stripped

5200, while being very agressive and strong, is not an epoxy. After curing, it is still rubbery. I would use a true epoxy or even MarineTex instead. If nothing else works and you have the ability, you could always just bump up a size in hardware. Assuming you have a 1/4" screw holding things together...

UFM82