HELP! Coaming attachment

[Jason K]

I am having a heck of a time attaching the coamings to the boat. On both sides, the second screw from the front of the cockpit fails to hold. I am using #12 2 1/2" screws. In order to try and get the screws in that location to hold, I first went to #12 3" screws. When that didn't work, I went to #14 2 1/2".

FYI, the Triton has a pretty good sized piece of wood glassed in behind the cockpit sides. It's too thick to run a bolt through and, even if I could, the newer gas tank in the starboard locker prevents access.

So, what would you recommend? I've thought about filling with thickened epoxy, but I don't know that that would hold (?). I assume the wood is pretty good, as the other screws are holding very well.

Is there any kind of molly bolt that would work inside the wood? Any other ideas?

[Figment]

On my boat, the two forwardmost screws (on each side) are machine screws with nut and washer behind. Access to the starboard side is relatively easy, inside the stowage compartment above the galley module.
The portside is easy for me, but would be hellish if you still have the ice box in place.

Anyway, yeah I think you should fill the hole with thick epoxy and tap some threads and go with machine screws.
I've converted all of my coaming anchor screws to machine screws. I used tee nuts where access allowed, but otherwise I just filled and tapped.

[Tim]

Yup. As Mike said, the forwardmost screw location does not pass into the wood strip, and is actually inside the cabin. Screws will grip poorly, if at all. You can access this area with difficulty on the starboard side, but not to port if your original icebox is in place.

Holes tapped for machine screws should work OK. The stress on the forwardmost screws should be minimal anyway; I hardly find them to be necessary at all. The stress of the bend is held by the 3 or 4 screws at the center of the coaming's length, and this usually presses the forward end pretty tightly in without any fasteners at all.

[Jason K]

Thanks Tim and Mike.

Tim, I installed the coaming screws at the same intervals you did on Glissando: 3" from the ends with 10" intervals between the screws. I'm finding the pressure at the second screw location to be considerable.

Also, the icebox is still in place. Lovely thing, isn't it? I suppose I'll try and bolt the stbd side and fill and tap the port. Hope that works as I'm anxious to get out on the water in the Triton.

[Eric]

On my boat, the two forwardmost screws (on each side) are machine screws with nut and washer behind. Access to the starboard side is relatively easy, inside the stowage compartment above the galley module.
The portside is easy for me, but would be hellish if you still have the ice box in place.

I have the original icebox, but not the access problem to these bolts as there is a small piece of wood missing that once filled in the hole in the aft port corner of the counter between that and the underside of the side deck. I don't imagine that it would be difficult to remove same...

[bcooke]

Also, the icebox is still in place. Lovely thing, isn't it?

You will just LOVE the new access when you finally take a hammer to that icebox.

Come on, just do it. You know you want to... hehe.

-Britton

[Jason K]

You will just LOVE the new access when you finally take a hammer to that icebox.

Come on, just do it. You know you want to... hehe.

I dare not even tap on it. I had to remove the shelving above the galley and some other pieces in the way to fit the coamings (they're on, by the way - thanks everyone). It's scary how easy these boats come apart - give me a half hour with a drill and a hammer and I'll have the entire inside outside in half an hour!

[bcooke]

give me a half hour with a drill and a hammer and I'll have the entire inside outside in half an hour!

Which is how my interior looks now :-)

-Britton

[Tim]

...give me a half hour with a drill and a hammer and I'll have the entire inside outside in half an hour!

Yes, they sure do come apart easily.

Of course, then it takes you a year (or more) to rebuild what came out in that fateful 30 minutes! Demolition is great fun. But then the fun really begins.

[dasein668]

It took me substantially longer to reduce my icebox to pieces that would fit out through the companionway than it did to actually uninstall the beast in the first place!