Question: Several screws on our 2000 Bayliner Ciera have become loose, especially the hatch cover hinges on the engine hatch. Any suggestions on how to re-secure them as they just keep turning and will not snug down?
—Barry Thompson
Answer: Loose screws are common on a boat, where vibrations can shake things out over time. It’s frustrating, noisy and it can be dangerous. They can weaken your hardware and allow water intrusion.
How to secure them will depend on the condition of that material they are screwed into. If the screws are running into wood or fiberglass that is still in decent shape, and your hardware allows it, you may be able to drill out the hole with a bit just slightly larger and replace the screw with one that is just slightly larger still.
The idea is to size the replacement screw so that you get a tight fit, without cracking the underlying material and loosening the screw.
If the underlying material is shot, as it might be after multiple repairs by multiple owners, you may have to fill the holes and move the hardware slightly, so that the screws can get a clean bite.
Alternately, if your application allows it, you may be able to drill out your holes and switch from screws to through bolts, with washers or a backing plate.
Whatever you choose, be sure to use stainless steel components. You may also want to dip the screw in silicon or some similar sealant to increase adhesion and keep out water. You can use the same to seal through bolts and to bed hardware, if the application calls for it.
Here’s a story on installing deck hardware properly. It uses a cleat as an example, but the same rules generally apply.
If you have a screw that is running into a threaded recepticle, like you might see on a door knob, and the threads and screw are in good condition, you may get away with simply applying Loctite and tightening. If the threads are stripped, you may need to re-tap the recepticle, if you know how to do that, or simply replace it.
Finally, if you already have through bolts that are shaking loose, you can apply Loctite and tighten, or add nylon lock nuts to keep them secure.
– Glen Justice is the Editor of DIY Boat Owner.
DIY Boat Owner has long had an Ask The Expert column. But often, we get too many questions to fit in the magazine. As a result, we run the column on the website, in an effort to get more of your questions answered. The best questions and answers will make it into the magazine.
Just be sure to limit the selection of adhesives to ’structural’ adhesives. Any adhesive based on cyanoacrylate chemistry should be avoided! These adhesive products are susceptible to attack by ultraviolet rays and are very brittle.
Another fix taught to me by my dad: he would have on hand a variety of wooden dowel, he would drill out the offending screw hole and glue in a piece of dowel to the depth of the hole and when it dried he would cut it flush to the deck, this would give the screw a solid piece to bite into.