swim platform bracket lag bolts pulling out of transom

[jstander]

1985 master craft swim platform is pulling away from transom. the space between the hull and the floor is filled with foam and I have no access to the inside area of transom without cutting the fiberglass flooring. Because the boat is an inboard there is not a very thick transome plate, thus they simply lagg bolted in through the rear 1/4 fiberglass and into the foam. from the looks of it the threads did not hold in the foam, but they did hold in the fiberglass and the glass is now flexing and pulling away. I had wanted to mount the bracket with a bolt and back-plate, but can't get to it. any ideas?

 

[KSorber]

Re: swim platform bracket lag bolts pulling out of transom

If you are careful you could use 1/4" or 3/8" anchors like you would use in your house for a hollow wall. I would use the largest spring loaded ones you could find and replace the bolts with stainless steel. Make sure you get the holes sealed as good as you can. Silicone would work, but I would think about mixing up a little fiberglass epoxy and really make it water tight.<br /><br />This is an inexpensive workaround to doing it the "right" way which is cutting into the floor and putting on a backing plate.

 

[crab bait]

Re: swim platform bracket lag bolts pulling out of transom

not much will hold up in thin glass & foam... maybe what KSORBER said..that's a big maybe.. <br /><br />try a big ole' toggle bolts ( stainless ) it'll have more 'suface' hold...<br /><br />if all else fails,, drill out same holes with a 1 1/4 spade/paddle bit .. epoxy in a 1 1/4 hardwood dowel rod ( all covered an sealed with epoxy)... let harden.. drill small hole ,, coat lag with epoxy & screw home new ss lags..

 

[jstander]

Re: swim platform bracket lag bolts pulling out of transom

I went ahead and cut a hole in the floor to take a look. The transom is compose of 1/2 plywood laminated on both sides (inside and outside) with fiberglas/gelcoat. I now am able to put on a back plate. I did this before reading Crab Bait's solution. After looking closer the outside gelcoat has hair line fractures (4 0r 5 about 1" long each) allowing water access to the wood and causing it to rot. Now the question is after I install a bolt and back plate, can I rotozip (inverted similar to a dovetail slot/bit)out the outside cracks and fill them with anything that will stand up, plus be inconspicuos (grey).<br /><br />thanks

 

[crab bait]

Re: swim platform bracket lag bolts pulling out of transom

yeah,, gray marine-tex epoxy putty available at any marine center... <br /><br />but the rot is still there...

 

[jstander]

Re: swim platform bracket lag bolts pulling out of transom

I am working throught the "Git-rot" process right now and then I will patch, plug and remount. thanks