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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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I Cannot find Stainless Steel Bolts I need! HELP!

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Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/19/2010 : 12:05:46

Hello,

I'm confronted with a very annoying problem. I received my deck organizers, new mast plate and clutches. Now I cannot mount them because I can't find the darn bolts anywhere! I spent most of the weekend going to specialty bolt shops etc and cannot find what I think should be pretty simple. Can't even find it online, not even West Marine or Binnacle or Boltdepot.com!

The problem is that the bolts I find have threads the whole way. I'd like them to be smooth on the top part and threaded on the bottom. I'm looking for:

STAINLESS:
1/4" pan head philips 3" long
1/4" flat head philips 2.5" long

???" flat head philips 5.5" long (not sure about the size, it's for the mast step, smaller than 1/4" for a C250).

EDIT: I researched this some more and I think what I'm looking for doesn't exist!

This is all I find, threaded the whole way

I want the same as a BOLT but with the pan and flat head philips above. (smooth upper part, no threads).

Steve Blackburn, Calgary, AB
C250WB - 1999 - Hull 396

Edited by - Steve Blackburn on 04/19/2010 12:27:30

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2010 : 12:30:13

Have you tried Jamestown Distributors or Defender Industries?

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2010 : 12:49:44

What is the impetus for that specific variety? can you get a ferule and possibly a smaller diameter screw?

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2010 : 13:09:05

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/

When I get jiggy for special hardware this is where I look.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/hapages/anbolts.php

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2010 : 13:19:31

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/hapages/an4.php

something like an an4-50a

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2010 : 14:13:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redeye
 http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/hapages/an4.php

something like an an4-50a
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Yes something like this but in Stainless:

from the aircraftspruce web site.

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2010 : 14:42:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by OJ
 Have you tried Jamestown Distributors or Defender Industries?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Nope nothing on either. I know this exists because I have the original mast step screw in hand and its a flat head philips with threads only on the bottom (but too short which is why I need new ones).

Amazing that these are so hard to find. Who would've thought? I thought I'd just waltz in home depot and get them.

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2010 : 14:45:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Champipple
 What is the impetus for that specific variety? can you get a ferule and possibly a smaller diameter screw?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What I'm afraid of with the machine screws that are fully threaded are 2 points:
1. Will act as a saw if there is movement.
2. For my deck organizers the ball bearing is around that screw and will rest on threads instead of the prefered smooth surface.

Edited by - on

Ed Cassidy
Captain

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USA
365 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2010 : 16:21:52

Steve,
It sounds like you do the same thing I do with almost everything and most times it overwhelmingly gets in the way. It's over-engineering things. If it's tight, there won't be any movement and the inner race of the bearings is far harder than the bolt. You will have no problem using the threaded screw. Home Depot it is!
Ed

Edited by - on

Even Chance
Captain

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USA
393 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2010 : 16:39:17

Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace Hardware, many other hardware stores, and many auto parts stores carry stainless nuts, bolts, and screws.

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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4382 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2010 : 17:10:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Ed Cassidy
 . . . It sounds like you do the same thing I do with almost everything and most times it overwhelmingly gets in the way. It's over-engineering things . . . You will have no problem using the threaded screw . . . <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I totally agree and I have done the same thing many times.

Perfect is the enemy of good

Steve, we need to give you a Cesar Milan moment

Edited by - OJ on 04/19/2010 17:12:26

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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4593 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2010 : 20:31:52

Do you have a local shop that specializes in bolts and screws. If not, try
http://www.scottbolt.com/
If it is available, these guys can find it.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2010 : 20:39:21

Where's Randy when you need him

Paul

Edited by - on

two port feet
1st Mate

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77 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2010 : 21:09:02

Dave: Keep it simple ( marinepartdepot.com ) works for me.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/20/2010 : 08:21:07

how about something like this - (this might not be the right size, but might give you what you need)

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/6KA35?cm_mmc=Google%20Base-_-Fasteners-_-Screws-_-6KA35

Edited by - on

redeye
Master Marine Consultant

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3476 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2010 : 04:27:02

Well???? Did you find them? I'll be needing some next.

Edited by - on

cat25
Navigator

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USA
140 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2010 : 04:51:00

Try west marine.

Edited by - on

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2010 : 04:54:20

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Perfect is the enemy of good
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Ha... that explains why me ex drove away two good men....

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2010 : 05:28:58

What about using a barrel nut from the bottom?

Edited by - on

Justincase
1st Mate

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Canada
49 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2010 : 11:34:55

Steve, I’m in Calgary too and I just happen to be at Totem just off of Macleod trail south, getting galvanized bolts for the deck, not the boat deck :~( The have a specific section for stainless hardware, if you are looking at all of the bolt racks it would be behind you. They might have what you are looking for. Let me know if you find a local place.

Edited by - on

britinusa
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Response Posted - 04/21/2010 : 13:17:11

Duane, how about some pics of your 30' in the Admiralty forum???

Paul

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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6855 Posts

Response Posted - 04/21/2010 : 19:02:05

surprisingly, we don't have a lot.... Rather sail that take pics I guess
We've done a ton of work though....mostly comfort and upgrades, as opposed to repairs.

I'll leave that for another forum post.

As for the fasteners - Steve what kind of fasteners does the mfg. recommend? Your saw action theory would require back and forth movement - your only going to get one direction and then, only if it is loose.

Been mighty fun looking for your screws though, found a couple of sites that will require future investigation for many projects both in the home and boat.

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 04/25/2010 : 23:29:31

Hi Guys, I finally ordered bolts from Jamestown Distributors. From JTD I ordered the 4 bolts I couldn't find at home depot or specialized bolt supplies here in Calgary. Order minimum was for 10 units for a total cost of $4.34 + $22 of shipping. 10-24 X 6 inches stainless steel. I droped the idea of "perfect", my bolts have threads the whole way now. My "saw" action concerns are flawed because I now agree that there will be no movement although it would've been nice to find non-threaded at the first 3/4 of the bolt like hexa bolts are.

My deck oranizers required 3" bolts. My clutches 2.5". The deck is about 1.75" inches thick but almost 4.5" at the mast step.

For anyone thinking of installing deck mounted equipment I advise NOT to do the mistake I did and buy all of your SS bolts online. Total for my fastners come to a bit more than $100, probably would've been 1/3 of that from JTD. Drilling holes and bedding was much easier than I thought.

Thanks for the tips and help.

Edited by - on

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