how do you secure a t-top on the deck?

jspooney · 06-27-2009, 12:44 PM

I have a 18'cc and have installed an aluminum t-top (a few years ago). I used lag bolts (4 per leg) but they won't stay tight. The floor is wood with chopped glass over it. What kind of fasteners should I use to secure it tight to the floor? Don't really want to spend $6 per bolt, though.

jspooney · 06-28-2009, 05:26 PM

anybody have an answer for this one?

Quint · 06-28-2009, 06:30 PM

Can you through bolt it instead using some large flat washers or maybe an aluminum plate under the deck? No access...maybe consider cutting an access hole and using a couple waterproof access/inspection cover. I wouldn't use toggles.

sealark · 06-28-2009, 07:03 PM

Get a tube of 5200, Remove the lag bolts and put 5200 into the holes and tighten down the lag bolts. The 5200 takes about 7 days to totaly cure. Take a bunch of rags with you when you do the 5200, you will need them..

jspooney · 06-28-2009, 11:03 PM

awesome. thanks

eddy2419 · 06-29-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

sealark (6/28/2009)Get a tube of 5200, Remove the lag bolts and put 5200 into the holes and tighten down the lag bolts. The 5200 takes about 7 days to totaly cure. Take a bunch of rags with you when you do the 5200, you will need them..

That worked for me also.

Rampage · 06-29-2009, 04:43 PM

When i got my boat i took the screws holding it down and drilled them out and through bolted and sealed it to the deck. My thought was with all the vibrations and movement it needs to be through bolted. just my thoughts...

nickcan · 06-29-2009, 05:40 PM

Definitely thru-bolt if you can...

johnsonbeachbum · 06-29-2009, 08:05 PM

Thru bolt it.

Putting 5200 in the holes will restore the holes but the pull out strength is still only the lag bolt threads.

You might want to look at prong nuts......http://www.mcmaster.com/#90973a120/=2j6uxf

Bore a hole on the base plate center just big enough for one or two fingers. Draw the prong nut up into the hole with a bolt and washer from the top to set them into the floor from below. Goop it up with 5200 but not on the threads.

Then put 5200 over the bottom of the base plates to seal them to the deck.

06-27-2009, 12:44 PM	#1
jspooney Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,125	how do you secure a t-top on the deck? I have a 18'cc and have installed an aluminum t-top (a few years ago). I used lag bolts (4 per leg) but they won't stay tight. The floor is wood with chopped glass over it. What kind of fasteners should I use to secure it tight to the floor? Don't really want to spend $6 per bolt, though.

06-28-2009, 05:26 PM	#2
jspooney Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,125	RE: how do you secure a t-top on the deck? anybody have an answer for this one?

06-28-2009, 06:30 PM	#3
Quint Member Ruby Red Lip Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 63	RE: how do you secure a t-top on the deck? Can you through bolt it instead using some large flat washers or maybe an aluminum plate under the deck? No access...maybe consider cutting an access hole and using a couple waterproof access/inspection cover. I wouldn't use toggles.

06-28-2009, 07:03 PM	#4
sealark Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pensacola, Sherman Cove Marina Posts: 1,983	RE: how do you secure a t-top on the deck? Get a tube of 5200, Remove the lag bolts and put 5200 into the holes and tighten down the lag bolts. The 5200 takes about 7 days to totaly cure. Take a bunch of rags with you when you do the 5200, you will need them..

06-28-2009, 11:03 PM	#5
jspooney Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,125	RE: how do you secure a t-top on the deck? awesome. thanks

06-29-2009, 04:43 PM	#7
Rampage Member Ruby Red Lip Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Douglasville, Ga/ Santa Rosa Bch, Fl Posts: 57	RE: how do you secure a t-top on the deck? When i got my boat i took the screws holding it down and drilled them out and through bolted and sealed it to the deck. My thought was with all the vibrations and movement it needs to be through bolted. just my thoughts... __________________ 1980' Mako 236 Inboard "You gotta want it!!!"

06-29-2009, 05:40 PM	#8
nickcan Member Ruby Red Lip Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Orange Beach, AL Posts: 34	RE: how do you secure a t-top on the deck? Definitely thru-bolt if you can...

06-29-2009, 08:05 PM	#9
johnsonbeachbum Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,573	RE: how do you secure a t-top on the deck? Thru bolt it. Putting 5200 in the holes will restore the holes but the pull out strength is still only the lag bolt threads. You might want to look at prong nuts......http://www.mcmaster.com/#90973a120/=2j6uxf Bore a hole on the base plate center just big enough for one or two fingers. Draw the prong nut up into the hole with a bolt and washer from the top to set them into the floor from below. Goop it up with 5200 but not on the threads. Then put 5200 over the bottom of the base plates to seal them to the deck.

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