Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.
Looking to attach a Bimini to the top of the Catalina 250.
Never have done this. It didn't come with bolts or screws and I'm wondering what to use to install it.
Wondering if anyone can provide me some information do I just use wood screws does it have to be Bolts Etc do I need a backing plate.
Of course my boat is about a four-hour drive away and it's hard to check it prior to going so I'm just hoping to have the right Hardware when I get there
I've used both but I prefer Stainless steel machine screws, with the drill bit very close to the size of the screws. Resin does not give at all so it cracks if your hole is too small.
I think I've bought my machine screws to fit the hardware ( bimini ) and then checked the fit somewhere unseen inside the boat in the fiberglass, using both metric and SAE bits till I found something that fit well.
Ray in Atlanta, Ga. "Lee Key" '84 Catalina 25 Standard Rig / Fin Keel
A bimini frame can be subjected to some significant stresses from being grabbed, fallen against, or caught in high wind. Wood screws, self-tappers, and sheet metal screws aren't a good idea. It should be through-bolted with machine screws, although a backing plate probably isn't necessary--just use the largest washers you can fit (up to "fender washer" size) and nylock nuts. Then use a proper sealant such as BoatLife Life Caulk or butyl tape to bed the bases and prevent water from migrating down the bolts. You can find Youtube discussions on bedding hardward--the method with butyl tape is somewhat different from doing it with caulk/sealant. I recommend chamfering the top edges of the bolt holes (a few turns of a larger drill bit) to allow a better seal around the bolt.
Dave Bristle Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired), Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ. The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.