Swim platform screw repair

[Mrlion123]

Hi folks. i have a 2007 1801. There is a small swim platform with ladder on the back. There is an aluminum bracket going down from the right side that is screwed into the back of the boat. the screw broke off and now the bracket is not held in place against the boat. i want to fix this. i tried to get the screw out but there is nothing to grab and a back out bit seems to be making a bigger hole. i thought about drilling a new hole but am afraid to make a bigger problem. yes i called my Parker dealer and marina but this is such a small job and in the height of the season cant get to it. any ideas ? and NO i will not drill through the transom.

here is a picture of the platform.
http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x36 ... c8z6g.jpeg

Thanks !

 

[shawnee83]

Honestly, I would just continue to drill out the old screw. Purchase a new screw a little larger in diameter that will fit properly in the new hole. If you need to drill the bracket hole bigger too, that's no big deal. If this is below the water line, use 3M5200 when you put the new screw in. This is an easy fix.

 

[rwp48]

Can you cut a slot in the end of the screw so you can go after it with a flat blade screwdriver? If not , keep after it with an easy out.

Once you remove the screw, over drill the hole, to say 1/2" diameter. Then pack the hole with epoxy putty. West epoxy mixed with cabosil or one of the heavy-bodied epoxies that come in a "caulk" tube with a mixing tip. The idea is to pack the hole solid. After it cures redrill and reinstall your platform. This way the screw will be surrounded completely by epoxy with no chance of water penetrating into the core of the transom.

 

[warthog5]

Use a small drill bit and drill all around the screw to be able to get it out.

Once removed, countersink the hole.....Now very carefully tape around the hole.

Now fill the hole with a mixture of epoxy/cabisol. wipe it off so it is flush with the outer surface.

the next day redrill a pilothole and install the new same size screw.

 

[Megabyte]

Use a small drill bit and drill all around the screw to be able to get it out.

Once removed, countersink the hole.....Now very carefully tape around the hole.

Now fill the hole with a mixture of epoxy/cabisol. wipe it off so it is flush with the outer surface.

the next day redrill a pilothole and install the new same size screw.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^ :wink:

 

[Mrlion123]

update.after trying to get the screw out I gave up. It was broken off pretty deep and digging at it was getting no where. So...I drilled a small pilot hole just below that and filled it with silicone, then screwed the support bracket with a 1 inch stainless #14 screw. it is super tight and sturdy. I use the boat in salt water so hope silicone was ok choice. I also filled the old screw hole with silicone. boat will be back in the water this week.

 

[shawnee83]

update.after trying to get the screw out I gave up. It was broken off pretty deep and digging at it was getting no where. So...I drilled a small pilot hole just below that and filled it with silicone, then screwed the support bracket with a 1 inch stainless #14 screw. it is super tight and sturdy. I use the boat in salt water so hope silicone was ok choice. I also filled the old screw hole with silicone. boat will be back in the water this week.

This is why I didn't recommend Warts/Mega or RWP's methods even though they were spot on solid advise. Based on your initial question and comments, I thought that giving you a reasonably easy(but not the best)option, you could get it done. Needless to say, filling those holes with Silicone is not "ideal". At a minimum the old hole should be filled with MarineTex or at least 3M5200 and the new screw should have been installed with 5200/4200 or similar marine sealant. Warts recommendations were the best and correct way to do it. You are running a risk with silicone of water intrusion into your transom core and getting rot. You should consider redoing this repair in the off season.

 

[Mrlion123]

Thanks. The boat is not in the water yet so I will redo before putting it in. Thanks for the advice.

 

[warthog5]

You are running a risk with silicone of water intrusion into your transom core and getting rot.

He's exactly right.....Those Lil swim platforms like you have, do not do well with heavyweight people. They are just to flimsy, partly because they are not thrubolted , as they throw them up there and shot screws in. Then what happens is the screws get loose and leak....The leak then rots the transom.

 

[Mrlion123]

Hi guys, thanks for the feedback. I honestly did not realize that water rot could impact a fiberglass transom. I redid the repair this am using M5200 rather than silicone. I took out the screw i put in, cleaned out the silicone I had used and redid it.

 

[sydngoose]

Hi guys, thanks for the feedback. I honestly did not realize that water rot could impact a fiberglass transom. I redid the repair this am using M5200 rather than silicone. I took out the screw i put in, cleaned out the silicone I had used and redid it.

It's not a fiberglass transom: It's wood core encapsulated in fiberglass. The transom will rot from the inside out. I like either 3M UV4000 or fastcure 4200
Personally, I don't think 5200 has many purposes on a boat...too permanent, and takes gel coat/ glass with it upon removal later in life...

Glad to see you've corrected the silicone issue with a water tight sealent/ adhesive.