Hull/Deck Joint

[p424owner]

Hello all,

I seem to be posting way more questions than answers these days, perhaps because the weather is good in Portland, OR, and I see many possibilities.

When I was upside down in the cockpit lockers this weekend, I got a good look at the hull/deck joint on #223. It looks like the joint is secured with machine screws at right angles to eachother every 6 inches. Has anyone replaced these with more appropriate bolts? I have calculated about 4 screws per foot, 70 feet for port and starboard, plus about 10 feet for the transom, for just under a lifetime's worth of effort and a lot of (probably) cussing.

Has anyone (other than Drew on Dosia, who ground out and glassed the join) replaced these screws in some way? Is it likely that replacing these screws will help reduce the flex that has crazed my gelcoat along the toerail from bow to cockpit?

Ewan

[SV THIRD DAY]

Ewan....I look at them everytime I'm in the area on THIRD DAY....but honestly...has there ever been a report of a failure at the hull/deck joint on a P365/367?  It's not something high on my worry list to be honest for the amount of effort it would take.  Now if I was already going to replace my toerail....well, then I would do it at the time....otherwise...I'd focus on other improvements.


Just my thoughts.

[SailingSeaDragon]

Most P365 deck & hulls were put together with expoy and sheet metal screws. The problem with the screws vs bolts with nuts & washers is that the screws will wiggle loose as the hull and deck flex causing leaks.... The joint it self is very strong... I agree with Rich, unless you are planning on removing the toe rail, don't worry about it...

However below is a nice link on the Pearson 40 website should you want to take on the project...

http://www.pearson40.org/toerail_refit.htm

Garner

[p424owner]

Rich, I am inclined to agree with you, although I may replace a leaky or crazed section or two to see if I stiffen it up a bit. I think tabbing the bulkheads a bit would help too. I would like my gelcoat repairs to last a bit longer than a few outings.

It is not like there is any shortage of (major) projects!

Ewan

[Trinity]

I have heard of 365 owners who, in prep for 'the big cruise', have replaced the machine screws with appropriate nuts and bolts.  The machine screws are one of the few places where Bendix seems to have compromised too much...imo.

"Compared to the Pearson 365 mentioned earlier, it's better built (we still don't like the fiberglass inner liner and screwed together hull-deck joint of the P365, though there is much else to appreciate, e.g., the bathtub!) and less expensive."
http://www.pbase.com/sailrosita/image/33581433

[p424owner]

Looking again, I see quite a bit of strength is probably imparted by the track fastenings, which look like they are bolted through both the hull and the deck. This week I have begun the deck hardware rebedding - so everything is coming off. I will have ample time to look closely at the hull/deck joint when I remove things.

Ewan