Stripped Holes In Bunk

[derekpfeiffer]

Last summer I removed my bunks to put on vynil bunk caps (http://www.bunkaps.com/index.html) and my bunks were attatched by lag screws. Well having known that I would have purchased new stainless carraige bolts and replaced them at the same time. But after having removed the carpet and needing to get my boat out of the water and the hardware stores were closed I had to reuse the lags and a couple of them stripped out. I was wondering if I had any other options other than removing the caps to replace the lags with carraige bolts??? I had thought of useing silicone or a buddy of mine told me they make a special putty to fill in stripped wood holes and just put a slightly longer lag in also?? I'd really like to fix this b4 spring and I'm not really crazzy about lifting my boat off the trailer.

Thanks for any suggestions!!!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Stripped Holes In Bunk

why not just shift the bunk boards a couple of inches, and reuse the lag screws. would be a lot easier.

 

[derekpfeiffer]

Re: Stripped Holes In Bunk

Yeah I could do that but was hoping for a fix while the boat was on the trailer this winter and had plenty of time in my garage. But yeah that would be a quick and easy fix this spring!

Thanks!

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Stripped Holes In Bunk

I like TD's idea of sliding the bunks a few inches.

But if that's not feasible, how about inserting a plastic lag bolt anchor into the hole, then reinstall the lag bolt. I doubt you can get an entire lag bolt anchor in there so you might have to choose a smaller one or cut a piece off one, get creative. You just need something to make the hole smaller so the lag bolt will bite again.

 

[C-worthy]

Re: Stripped Holes In Bunk

Derek,

Insert any small sliver of wood in the hole. Or use a wooden swizel stick or a some toothpicks. Install the bolt. If it's still loose, put more toothpicks in. Should be good until you can improve it anyway.

For a more permanant fix, drill the hole out clean, waterproof-glue a dowel in that will just fit, drill a new hole in the dowel and install the bolt.


Brian

 

[sschefer]

Re: Stripped Holes In Bunk

This is really easy. Squirt some water in the holes and let it run out. Coat the lags with Gorilla Glue and tighten them back up as best you can without causing furter stripping. You may see a foam come out, that's OK. Gorilla Glue is moisture activated and foams when it's working right. I'd be suprised if you ever have a problem with the lags after that.

 

[derekpfeiffer]

Re: Stripped Holes In Bunk

GREAT IDEAS GUYS!!!!! I like the gorrila glue idea...never thought of that stuff!!

Anyone ever used these bunkcaps??? I'm not totally sold on them but I do alot of river boating and at least don't have to worry about sand getting embeded into them and scuffing the hull of my brand new boat.

Thanks again guys!!

 

[willieboy]

Re: Stripped Holes In Bunk

Two things, the dowel rod and the fill the hole is great if you do not have a lot of stress, or the stress is really spread out among other fasteners ( a door hinge for example). However, I would never trust any of that to hold with the pressure a boat will exert on those things. Gorilla glue is great stuff, but you better hope you never want those bunks off again, and when the wood rots eventually, be prepared to cut those bolts to get them out of the trailer holes. Personally, I would wait fir spring, launch the boat and then shift the boards a few inches, bit then again, I only live 1 mile from the boat launch.

Second, what makes you NOT sold on the vinyl bunk slides. I was considering them and I would love to hear your feedback.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Stripped Holes In Bunk

Why not just use the next size larger lag bolt. Yes -- you may have to enlarge the hole in the bracket but that sure beats a band-aid approach that won't hold.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Stripped Holes In Bunk

Why not just use the next size larger lag bolt. Yes -- you may have to enlarge the hole in the bracket but that sure beats a band-aid approach that won't hold.

Yea but I would not want to be drilling the holes bigger on a galvanized bracket. You are then exposing raw steel to oxy cancer.

Doesn't your boat go fast enough to wash the sand off the bottom prior to loading?

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Stripped Holes In Bunk

Two things, the dowel rod and the fill the hole is great if you do not have a lot of stress, or the stress is really spread out among other fasteners ( a door hinge for example). However, I would never trust any of that to hold with the pressure a boat will exert on those things. Gorilla glue is great stuff, but you better hope you never want those bunks off again, and when the wood rots eventually, be prepared to cut those bolts to get them out of the trailer holes. Personally, I would wait fir spring, launch the boat and then shift the boards a few inches, bit then again, I only live 1 mile from the boat launch.

Second, what makes you NOT sold on the vinyl bunk slides. I was considering them and I would love to hear your feedback.

The lag bolts are really not doing much more than holding the bunks in place when the boat is not on them and while the boat is loading.

 

[derekpfeiffer]

Re: Stripped Holes In Bunk

[Doesn't your boat go fast enough to wash the sand off the bottom prior to loading?[/QUOTE]

LOL yes my boat goes plenty fast to get the sand off the boat...heck it'll do 65mph. But when other people in the docks directly up stream of you are pulling boats in and out they stir up the water and there's just naturally sand in the river and when you dunk the bunks it'll get stuck in the carpet and then scuff your hull everytime you load and unload ur boat.

 

[derekpfeiffer]

Re: Stripped Holes In Bunk

Two things, the dowel rod and the fill the hole is great if you do not have a lot of stress, or the stress is really spread out among other fasteners ( a door hinge for example). However, I would never trust any of that to hold with the pressure a boat will exert on those things. Gorilla glue is great stuff, but you better hope you never want those bunks off again, and when the wood rots eventually, be prepared to cut those bolts to get them out of the trailer holes. Personally, I would wait fir spring, launch the boat and then shift the boards a few inches, bit then again, I only live 1 mile from the boat launch.

Second, what makes you NOT sold on the vinyl bunk slides. I was considering them and I would love to hear your feedback.

Well first I don't think they look quite as attractive. They are slick enough that they are kinda hard to load on...I'm loading out of a river with a current and many times you'll get off a lil bit and one of the ribs on ur boat will get guided between two of the ribs on one of the bunks unlike the carpeted bunks that only the inside edge is what will guide your boat on.

But I didn't install them until august or so....so i'm not real used to them yet. But makes you feel like an idiot when you gotta back your boat back into the water just to shift it over a little bit when others are waiting for the ramp.

But as far as them keeping the hull free of scuffs...they seem to do the trick for that!!

 

[jonesg]

Re: Stripped Holes In Bunk

How much are 2x4's these days ?

 

[sschefer]

Re: Stripped Holes In Bunk

How much are 2x4's these days ?

About the same as a decent bag of plastic worms. Priorities, my friend, priorities. LOL