Loose Hardware
Hardware such as cleats, turning blocks, shaft struts and pad eyes may become loose, resulting in enlarged bolt holes. These can be critical, especially with highly stressed fittings, and will allow water to leak into the laminate. Bedding compounds and sealants may temporarily stop the leakage, but do not increase holding power nor maintain the long-term integrity of the hardware.
Solution 1 -
Repairing loose hardware- Bonding new hardware in place
1. Remove the existing hardware.
2. Clean dirt, old sealants and other materials from hardware, deck surface and fastener holes. Drill over-sized holes to expose uncontaminated deck material and increase bonding area. (If backing plate and bolt are not used, drill the oversize hole only (190) of the pilot hole depth.
3. Place hardware in position. Trace the perimeter with a pencil. Remove the hardware and tape the marked perimeter with masking tape.
4. Sand the surface thoroughly to a dull finish.
5. Coat both the deck surface and the hardware mating surface with the epoxy mixture. Wet-out the inside of the fastener hole with an epoxy-wet pipe cleaner, or by injecting epoxy with a syringe.
6. Scrub all epoxy-wet hardware surfaces with 50-grit sandpaper.
7. Mix epoxy with WEST SYSTEM 403 Microfibre Blend to a "mayonnaise" consistency. Apply generously to the mating surfaces, in fastener holes and on fastener threads. Using a syringe to fill holes if necessary.
8. Position the hardware and tighten the fasteners until some of the epoxy mixture squeezes out. Do not over tighten.
9. Clean excess epoxy away with a sharpened mixing stick. Remove the masking tape. Allow to cure for 24 hours at minimum 25°C before stressing.
