I won’t mention any brands, but I have a friend with a 24 foot center console with a hardtop. The top is supported with four aluminum posts, one on each corner of the console. Additional support is provided by a round aluminum pad on the port and starboard side of the console thru bolted with 1/4 - 20 oval head screws, two in each pad.
The problem is the screws on the starboard side keep breaking into. The first time, they were replaced under warranty. Now the boat is no longer under warranty and they have broken again. This boat is not getting beat up in heavy seas every weekend either, normal Charleston slop.
My thoughts are the 1/4 - 20 screws are not beefy enough to support the lateral motion of a heavy fiberglass T-Top. Some of you have built boats from the keel up. What are your thoughts?
I’m pretty sure that I know the brand you are referring too. I’ve seen a few like that. The problem is not the size of the fasteners, that’s industry standard, no problem there. The problem is that the substrate core is not reinforced well enough to handle the loads. I’d bet the deck core is honeycomb foam and there is absolutely nothing holding those screws except the thin outer fiberglass skin.
Capt. Larry Teuton
912-six55-5674
lteuton at aol dot com
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose
Thanks Larry, the screws in the deck are not the problem, it is the two attaching to the console pad starboard side.
Pioneer 222 Sportfish
Yamaha 250
If you want to bring it to Clyo, GA, I can fix it.
Capt. Larry Teuton
912-six55-5674
lteuton at aol dot com
“Ships are the nearest things to dreams that hands have ever made.” -Robert N. Rose