Stripped deck screw

Hello, I have a 1995 Shamar 1800 CC (Fiberglass). The problem I am having is lifting deck screws and stripped deck screw holes. I was thinking of injecting epoxy into each hole and then using self taping screws to mount a swing back chair and a pedestal seat. Any help or suggestions on the right way to fix these holes would be greatly appreciated.

 

Self tappers don't tend to hold too well in fibreglass; they'll just pull out again after a season or two. Better to make an aluminum backing plate, and drill the holes where they're needed in that. Through-bolting is best, especially for heavily loaded things, but it's not unheard of to tap the aluminum backing plate and use machine screws.

 

Thanks I was thinking about some kind of backing. I would guess if I use that process I would just need to seal the holes with 5200 calk?

 

you could weld nuts to the backing plat for more strenght,

 

Toggler

I'm assuming here that you have no access to the underside of the floor, otherwise any suitable, non degrading material that would spread out the loads would be ok. Phenolic, Sparaloy, giant S.S. washers, aluminum...

For a thru hole with a bit of room on the other side, use a toggler. They're pretty slick. See:
http://www.toggler.com/products_hwh_technical.html
Also available in stainless. You drill a thru hole, slip the toggler in, slide the retainer down, cut off the extra insert part and you're good to go. We use them often when a customer changes seating and there is no backing to screw to.

djs