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Bow rails?-gctid396395

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    #1

    Bow rails?-gctid396395

    I was looking in my cuddy under the bow rails and noticed some have a plate on the underside and some dont. I also noticed some black in one that doesnt have a plate. It was the only one that I could see that had the black. What would cause that? I have always heard that fiberglass doesnt rot? The ones that had the plate were the same on both sides.



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    #2
    I also noticed the ones that have the plate have some smaller screws in it?

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      #3
      fiberglass doesn't rot but the encapsulated wood does! In addition polyester isn't vapor tight which means given enough time there will be unwanted water in the wood. Not a problem in salt water as it conserves the wood but fresh water will ruin it.

      Your picture clearly shows the encapsulated wood. If the bolt isn't inserted with 5200 some water makes its way into the hole, reaches the wood and you have what you see. The smaller screws are just to hold the plate to make it easier to get the screws through.

      Repair: take the bolts/screws out and dry the hole with a heat gun and also let it sit for a while. Then paint the inside of the hole 2 times with thinned Epoxy, then with plain Epoxy. Insert the screws back in with liberal amount of 5200.

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        #4
        That is the only one I can see that has that. I am going to go around and apply 5200 around all of my bow rail bases to seal them up. I have already done the thru hull fittings. Just sealing around them with 5200. I am going to do that to the bow rail bases and then the rub rail as it is missing some calking.

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          #5
          Be careful doing kjs's fix. The backing plate in your photo appears to have captive nuts or has threads to accept the bolts holding the deck stanchions. If you seal the deck as he suggests avoid getting the epoxy on the threads in the backing plate.

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            #6
            Pretty sure I am just going to leave it as it is and just seal the heck from the outside. Its not that big of an area. May 1 inch, but the caulking is pretty faded.

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              #7
              richardson wrote:
              Be careful doing kjs's fix. The backing plate in your photo appears to have captive nuts or has threads to accept the bolts holding the deck stanchions. If you seal the deck as he suggests avoid getting the epoxy on the threads in the backing plate.
              To do the Epoxy fix you have to completely remove everything and then work on the plain holes...... Guess I wasn't clear enough.

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                #8
                I picked up on that, the only thing that concerns me is access to put everything back together. I cant gain finger access to the backside to put the nuts back on. That is why I plan on just sealing the piss out of it from the topside.

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                  #9
                  may work if there's no water trapped in the hole. If it is the rot will continue.

                  As you could take pictures there should be sufficient space to feed the nuts with a tool. It was assembled once so it should be possible to do it again.....

                  Good luck getting it fixed and tight!

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                    #10
                    lol pictures are decieving cellphone cam with zoom! lol. I tried to get my hands up there and cannot Im pretty sure there isnt water in there anymore. looks pretty dry and old. (boat is a 92) I just sealed the outside rims with 5200 and am going to hit the screw tops with marine silicone. Should do the trick. Im going to use the marine silicone so it can be removed easily if needed.

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