Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

[Blake0912]

My swim ladder screw broke off (Sheared) its under the water line and I can't back the rest of the screw out with vise grips theres not enough to grab its almost flush with the transom. I was thinking about covering the screw with 5200 and moving the ladder mount over 1/2 in and just adding a new screw. Is this the best way to go? I don't want to over drill the screw that broke off I feel like it will make a bigger mess.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

Wood screw or machine screw? Mine was a machine screw attached with a big washer and a nut on the inside of the transom. If you can get access to the inside of the transom you might be able to remove if from that side, if it's the sort of screw that fully penetrates the hull.

Jim

 

[Blake0912]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

I believe it's a wood screw. I looked at the backside of the transom and did not see any washers or nuts or any holes where it could have been. It's a small one step teak ladder on a 21ft Pursuit. The top and hand rail bolt is a threw bolt. But the ones under the water line seem to all be wood screws.

 

[carribbean soul]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

get a 1/4" hole saw drill it out (plug core) fill in the hole with cabosil and epoxy then re attach platform. the drill fill re-drill method of preventing rot.

 

[Blake0912]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

Where can I buy the proper epoxy and cabosil from? I like that idea a lot better than just covering it with 5200 im afraid the screw will back out and cause a rotted transom. I actually jumped the gun and put some 5200 over it but it looks like crap wish I would not have done that.

 

[Blake0912]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

What if I just drilled the screw out then put a threw transom stainless bolt on it , apply a lot of 5200 in the hole and let it cure. I feel that a threw bolt will hold the ladder better than a screw

 

[carribbean soul]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

west marine sells a tube for $20 called six something or a tube of 5 min epoxy and cabo will work if your fast

 

[carribbean soul]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

if you can get to the back of it thru bolting is always better

 

[Blake0912]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

I can acess it from the bilge easily. Will 5200 work for a sealant ?

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

The hole saw just the next size bigger than the broken bolt sound to be the best deal then fill and re-drill. I would not suggest drill any more holes into the transom than necessary! Good luck and post back!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

If you want to go to a thru bolt, instead of a screw, you should probably seal the wooden transom core in the new thru hole w/ epoxy, just use painters tape on the exterior of the hull to keep from making a mess on the visible side of the hull. Once the epoxy is cured & has sealed the wood against water intrusion, you can use 3M 4200/5200 as a sealant to keep water from flowing into the bilge thru the new hole you drilled thru the hull. Use a 4" +/- backer plate & washers on the interior side of the transom.

This ^^^ is just applying epoxy to the exposed wood in the thru hole, not fully filling the thru hole & redrilling thru the epoxy 'plug'. Although I think that too is a good idea.

5200 is a 'permanent' sealant. 4200 is the equivalent and some what more removable, although not much easier.

 

[sasto]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

Hey Blake. Just take a pair of "side cutters" and twist it out........counterclockwise......as you already know.

Like pulling teeth. Hurts thinking about it, all over with after the extraction.

 

[Blake0912]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

Thank you for all the tips.
@sasto I tried everything I could to twist it out it's just not coming and now since I've messed with it so much I pretty much grinded the exposed part off and it's flush with the fiberglass now.

I'm new to using epoxy and fiberglass work I prefer working on the motors lol.

Anyway I like to idea of coating the hole I will drill with epoxy before installing the new bolt and 5200. What kind of epoxy do I need to get and where can I get it. I have only used two part of epoxy from the hardware store on random things above the water line. I'm nervous with drilling and using the proper sealants below the waterline.

Also I have a unused transducer along with two unused speed wheels on my transom that I would like to remove and seal up the holes to reduce the risk of getting transom rot. What could I use to permenatly fill these holes without having to drive a scew back into them ?

 

[Hoosmatroos]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

Always difficult but I purchased a set Grabit a while ago. Just in case I needed it. And last week I broke a bolt on a outboard. Thought it would be impossible with the set to remove the bolt but it toke me 3 minutes. Don't know if you can buy it in the States. Works well for me.

Grabit - YouTube

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

Are you going to Paint the repairs or Gelcoat? If Gelcoating do NOT use epoxy to fill the holes. Gel coat does not stick to epoxy very well. Use Some Polyester resin, cabosil, and some chopped fibers for you filler

 

[Blake0912]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

Never head of grabit I'll look into it.

The boat has bottom paint (Blue) on it , I don't plan on gel coating it. If anything I was going to have a fresh coat of bottom paint put on this year. Can epoxy be painted over?

Also with the "extra" screws I have in the transom holding the unused transducer/speed wheel would it be a bad idea to take the screws out and fill the hole with 5200 then put some New SS screws in place? The wood around the screws is good , I'm not sure what te PO used to seal the screws but there is no trace of silicone or anything on the screws.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

You can paint over epoxy if you scuff it first. Personally I'd Drill all the screw holes out with a 1/4" drill and then fill em with 5200. Water will Never get to the wood if you do. No need to put screws back in.

 

[Hoosmatroos]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

Found one that sells online in the States.

Welcome to www.aldn.com

Looks like the same tool.

Micro-Grabit Micro-Drill Out Broken Bolt Remover - YouTube

 

[Auger01]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

Sometimes it is possibile to slot the head of the screw with a dremel cut-off wheel and then use a flat head to back it out.

West marine sells epoxy in small quantities as well as filler if you decide to go that route.

 

[Blake0912]

Re: Swim Ladder Screw Broke Off On Transom

Thank you all for your replies , I've decided to just drill it out. Coat the exposed core with epoxy. Then install a SS Bolt with large washers and seal it off with 5200. Also I'm planning on dealing with all my unused transom screws at the same time. Wish the previous owner did not go mounting crazy on a perfectly good Pursuit transom!
I'll let you all know how it turns out and post some pics.