Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

By no means am I a mechanic or expert, but have been around long enough to learn a few things, so I like to try and fix things myself, when possible...
I have had my boat for about 7-8 months now. I use mine both in salt and brackish water.
The very large river by me quite often can get pretty choppy when the wind whips up, actually can get very rough, but I avoid those days.
So the boat gets "challenged" versus smaller smooth lakes.
I have found that many of the screws that hold door hinges as well as other screws, are backing out.
When tightening them up, I find some of them are actually stripped.
Rather than just using one size larger screw to repair, I have through bolted some of them with Teflon locking nuts.
Hauling it back to the dealer to fix these issues just seems ridiculous to me?????? I am sure they would just use a larger screw????

Just curious, does everyone else have these same issues??? BTW, mine is a Harris, which should be a pretty well built boat.

Thanks

All my hinges are riveted. I think your fix is the way to go

Riveting makes some sense. Didn't even think of that one...and I own two riveting tools. I may try that on the next one for shits and giggles. Thx

Rip,
I think high quality stainless bolts with teflon locking nuts would be the way to go. GOOD SOLUTION !!!!
Think I would prefer to rivets....

I know the through bolts are a permanent fix. Rivets might look a little prettier.
I may do some of both. Top, center and bottom of door hinge through bolt and ones between those rivet.

Thanks guys.

riplipper wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 01, 2019 6:23 am

BTW, mine is a Harris, which should be a pretty well built boat.

Thanks

Say it aint so...I have a Harris 210 on order.
Any other problems?

ksks

riplipper wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 01, 2019 6:23 am

Hauling it back to the dealer to fix these issues just seems ridiculous to me??????

Ask your dealer to come to you to fix these issues. When I got my new boat, a couple of minor issues popped up about a month after delivery. My boat was in a slip an hour and a half from the dealer (they delivered it to me there), and they happily sent a tech to my slip to fix it. He spent three hours driving to spend 30 minutes fixed a couple of things.

I've said it before and I'll say it again............."pick the dealer, then pick the boat!"

[/quote]Say it aint so...I have a Harris 210 on order.
Any other problems?
[/quote]

Love my boat, this has really been the only issue boat wise.
My motor drove me crazy, they had the speedo set wrong (mercury)so I ended up buying mercury "vessel view" to
tell me exactly what was going on and that fixed that. Dealer was no help at all.
They switched out the prop, put I wrong hub, I could go on and on about the trouble that was.

Now all is good with motor.

If the dealer is only 30 miles away, I'd definitely have them come to you!

Check the screws you think stripped because my Harris uses threaded studs with a binding barrel and you may have lost the barrel on the bottom side. I called my Harris parts guy and they sent me a dozen. They know the exact size you need too.

What came loose on my Solstice had more to do with those holding the bimini hinges. I've since given all the loose ones a touch of Locktite.

It's good to go over your entire boat and check for loose screws.

My .02 since I repair/rebuild/modify...just because

Screws into alum tube be it 6061/6063 is a crap shoot, they use small screws to try to get 2 or 3 teeth engagement...that sucks and is B/S.

5 ways to do it is

Weld , but can stress crack

Rivet, but can stretch making them loose

Through bolt with NO spacer to not squish tube which will loosen

Through bolt with spacer, just a pain to position and make...or buy then cut to length to fit inside tubing

Best bet? Rivnuts, spend the $80 for correct tool, buy riv nuts and got to town, make sure to use antisieze for aluminum and different size riv nuts use different install tools...AND DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN you can snap off 1/4-20 SS screws easy