Fixing toe straps

[Alison Corfield]

Hi – more questions! To fix my new toe straps, I have a couple of eyes to fix to the stern bulk head – do I need to add a wooden backing plate on the inner side of the bulk head for these eyes to be bolted through or will a bolt and washer through the bulk head suffice?

[Bob Harland]

• I would suggest a wooden backing piece is used, then the washers. Size the timber so that flexing of the GRP is minimum. And use some sealant to bed the eyes on the outer side and perhaps on the inner side too for the timber.

[Alison Corfield]

Great thank you, I think I should be able to do that ok.

[Dave Barker]

Probably worth putting a coat or two of varnish on the wood beforehand too, Alison. A4 or 316 stainless steel “penny” washers are great for applications like this, and I try to use nyloc nuts throughout my boat; there’s never really a good time to have a nut come loose, and if it does it will more often than not find its way under the floorboards, overboard or into some long grass.

[Alison Corfield]

Great thanks

[AUTHOR]

POSTS