Sheared Hardtop Bolts

[Jtravis]

Hello all- I have a 2003 330 Express. I was running in from offshore yesterday and I snapped a few through bolts that anchor the hard top. Any ideas as to what they should be replaced with? Is standard stainless ok or should it be a hardened variety?

 

[Hookup1]

316 Stainless is plenty. 306 is cheap stainless and will rust stain. Should be 1/4-20. The hardtop should be caulked - silicone ok - bed it and keep it from "working" the bolts. Washers and stop nuts.

 

[Jtravis]

316 Stainless is plenty. 306 is cheap stainless and will rust stain. Should be 1/4-20. The hardtop should be caulked - silicone ok - bed it and keep it from "working" the bolts. Washers and stop nuts.

Thanks for the reply! I will definitely do that. I was surprised when they popped. It was pretty rough but to be honest I expected better. It created a hazardous situation and I had to creep home at 10mph.

 

[SkunkBoat]

make sure the holes did not get widened. That would require drilling/filling/drilling

 

[Hookup1]

When I re-installed my hardtop after re-finishing it I installed plastic insulators top and bottom. These keep the stainless from contacting the aluminum. If as SkunkBoat said, if they got enlarged/elongated drill them out and insulate them. It's easy and effective.

It's a common technique used by all the outrigger companies.

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[seasick]

Did you take out any of the popped bolts? I would expect to see some corrosion on the bolts reducing their diameter and strength.
Also can you confirm if the bolts are hardtop to the deck or hardtop to the frame?

 

[Jtravis]

Did you take out any of the popped bolts? I would expect to see some corrosion on the bolts reducing their diameter and strength.
Also can you confirm if the bolts are hardtop to the deck or hardtop to the frame?

They didn't appear to have any corrosion but I will double check next time I an down at the boat. The ones that snapped were the stabilizer arms that are bolted to the bow area. I'll get get some pics for you guys so you can get a better idea of what I mean. Thanks again for all the replies I really appreciate the input!

 

[jjack5150]

When bedding, tighten most of the way (within a 32nd) let the bedding compound ‘kick’ which may take as much as 72 hrs, then tighten bolts fully. Will give you a bit of a gasket type sealing surface. Use 4200 or 4200c depending on exposure to uv.

 

[Halfhitch]

If there is room in your situation, drill out the holes to accept 5/16 bolts to get an extra load capacity over the original 1/4".