Snaps Screwed into Fiberglass Pulling Out

[four winns 214]

I have an elderly Sea Ray cuddy vintage 1984. The male component of the snaps that secure the cockpit cover to the hull are screwed into the fiberglass with a sheetmetal screw. Some of the snaps have pulled out of the fiberglass and need to be replaced. What are the ways to accomplish this?

 

[Yegboats]

For a quick fix you can use dry wall anchors, or you can purchase adhesive snaps http://www.iboats.com/ADHESIVE-SNAP...681184--session_id.697595062--view_id.1387588

 

[Scott Danforth]

If you have access to the back side, you can thru-bolt them. There are also larger #10 screws

 

[fhhuber]

Best is to access the back side and insert a backer material. Wood or metal to do the actual work of holding the screws and go to longer screws.

In some cases that's not practical. Then you'd go to larger diameter screws or drill the hole larger and insert a dowel plug (at least 3X screw thread dia, epoxied in place) drill the dowel for the screw. and reinstall the snap.
The larger screws will eventually pull out too and then you end up with the dowel plugs. But if the OEM held 30 years... the boat may be junked before these pull out.

Fiberglass might act like its going to hold a screw, but if there's any real load, it will eventually let go. The question is not if they will fail. The question is how long it will take to fail. It may be long enough that you don't care (like 30 years)

 

[four winns 214]

All great ideas. Thanks!

 

[GA_Boater]

Has the cover shrunk over time as it aged? That may be the cause of the screws pulling out, stretching the cover to snap and tension is too great. If you anchor the snaps well, the next thing may be a torn cover.

 

[four winns 214]

I think it's more an issue of on-and-off stresses. There is a certain amount of tension required so that the cover is taut enough to shed water.

 

[GA_Boater]

These can save your cover - http://www.iboats.com/Handi-Man-Exte...view_id.729940

And a tool like this can help undo tight snaps - http://www.iboats.com/Top-Snapper-I...andle__ProductInfoContainer__Customer_Reviews