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Author Topic:   Bow Lifting Eye Removal - 1971 16 foot hull

17 bodega posted 07-20-2009 09:34 PM ET (US)
I have searched the forum for this topic and only found one old thread that didn't fully address my problem.
I attempted to remove the lifting eye with a standard wrench. The problem is there is no room in the small bow locker to accomodate a typical wrench and allow the user to gain adequate leverage to loosen the eye. [for reference I am only trying to turn the lifting eye on the inside of the boat. The outside bow eye has two points that dig into the fiberglass and would cause damage to the boat should I try that side]
Question: Is there a socket or some type of adjustable attachment that I could use with a 1/2 inch driver to attach to the lifting eye to loosen it? I tried tapping lightly with a hammer with no results too. That will only make more play in the hole in which the lifting/bow eye assembly rests.
I should add that there is NO play in the eye mechanism until you use the boat winch out of water and put the full weight of the boat on the eye. At that point the bolt appears to FLEX a small amount which is fairly normal for steel. My reason for wanting to remove the eye is more for the purposes of inspection and not necessarily for replacement if the existing bolt appears sound. I did buy another from Sue at Twin Cities Marine in the event that replacement becomes necessary.
Thanks
Steve
R T M posted 07-20-2009 09:49 PM ET (US)
An air powered impact wrench should do the job. Is the bolt stainless or galvanized. Whatever it is spray some WD on it first. Also SECURE the lifting ring on the topside by running a pipe through it and wedge the pipe so it can`t move. If you don`t when you bust the nut loose with the impact wrench, and you get a little space in there it will spin the ring, and you will have a circle gouged in your deck. Actually, instead of loosening the bolt, with the impact, just tighten it and call it good.
rich/Binkie
R T M posted 07-20-2009 09:53 PM ET (US)
BTW, even if you elect to just tighten the bolt, do the pipe thing, as an impact might spin the lifting ring.
rich/Binkie
R T M posted 07-20-2009 09:59 PM ET (US)
After re-reading your post I read you have another eye on the inside of the deck. I was thinking you had a bolt. You have a new one, you might just have to hacksaw the old one off from the inside.
rich/Binkie
Tom W Clark posted 07-20-2009 10:00 PM ET (US)
Steve,
Do not use an impact wrench. Use a LARGE screwdriver that you stick through the lifting eye to apply slow heavy leverage to it and rotate it.
While doing this you MUST hold the bow eye in place with a similar tool or you WILL rotate it and have fiberglass damage from the two tits cast into the bow eye to help prevent rotation.
The factory used Lok-Tite on those threads so they are held fast and you need to overcome that glue. It can take some force.
If you cannot hold the bow eye while you are turning the lifting eye, get somebody to help hold the bow eye and explain exactly what you are asking them to do.
17 bodega posted 07-20-2009 11:46 PM ET (US)
Thanks Tom and Rich,
That makes sense. Even though it's going to be tight in there with the large screwdriver. It's all about brute force on this one! I understand what you mean about slow heavy leverage... in other words, leave the hammer in the tool box. ;-)
Are there any signs I should look for on the old bolt, or should I just replace it? Sue told me that the old ones are a two piece part. One being the D shaped bow eye with permanent bolt, and the lifting eye on the inside which acts as a nut. The new one is three pieces. The threaded bolt (which I will have to cut) and the two eyes.
White Bear posted 07-21-2009 11:05 AM ET (US)
The enemy of good is better. The system appears sound, it is working as intended and you are seeing some flex in the hull which is independent of the system you wish to disassemble to check. Leave it alone.

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Author	Topic: Bow Lifting Eye Removal - 1971 16 foot hull
17 bodega	posted 07-20-2009 09:34 PM ET (US) I have searched the forum for this topic and only found one old thread that didn't fully address my problem. I attempted to remove the lifting eye with a standard wrench. The problem is there is no room in the small bow locker to accomodate a typical wrench and allow the user to gain adequate leverage to loosen the eye. [for reference I am only trying to turn the lifting eye on the inside of the boat. The outside bow eye has two points that dig into the fiberglass and would cause damage to the boat should I try that side] Question: Is there a socket or some type of adjustable attachment that I could use with a 1/2 inch driver to attach to the lifting eye to loosen it? I tried tapping lightly with a hammer with no results too. That will only make more play in the hole in which the lifting/bow eye assembly rests. I should add that there is NO play in the eye mechanism until you use the boat winch out of water and put the full weight of the boat on the eye. At that point the bolt appears to FLEX a small amount which is fairly normal for steel. My reason for wanting to remove the eye is more for the purposes of inspection and not necessarily for replacement if the existing bolt appears sound. I did buy another from Sue at Twin Cities Marine in the event that replacement becomes necessary. Thanks Steve
R T M	posted 07-20-2009 09:49 PM ET (US) An air powered impact wrench should do the job. Is the bolt stainless or galvanized. Whatever it is spray some WD on it first. Also SECURE the lifting ring on the topside by running a pipe through it and wedge the pipe so it can`t move. If you don`t when you bust the nut loose with the impact wrench, and you get a little space in there it will spin the ring, and you will have a circle gouged in your deck. Actually, instead of loosening the bolt, with the impact, just tighten it and call it good. rich/Binkie
R T M	posted 07-20-2009 09:53 PM ET (US) BTW, even if you elect to just tighten the bolt, do the pipe thing, as an impact might spin the lifting ring. rich/Binkie
R T M	posted 07-20-2009 09:59 PM ET (US) After re-reading your post I read you have another eye on the inside of the deck. I was thinking you had a bolt. You have a new one, you might just have to hacksaw the old one off from the inside. rich/Binkie
Tom W Clark	posted 07-20-2009 10:00 PM ET (US) Steve, Do not use an impact wrench. Use a LARGE screwdriver that you stick through the lifting eye to apply slow heavy leverage to it and rotate it. While doing this you MUST hold the bow eye in place with a similar tool or you WILL rotate it and have fiberglass damage from the two tits cast into the bow eye to help prevent rotation. The factory used Lok-Tite on those threads so they are held fast and you need to overcome that glue. It can take some force. If you cannot hold the bow eye while you are turning the lifting eye, get somebody to help hold the bow eye and explain exactly what you are asking them to do.
17 bodega	posted 07-20-2009 11:46 PM ET (US) Thanks Tom and Rich, That makes sense. Even though it's going to be tight in there with the large screwdriver. It's all about brute force on this one! I understand what you mean about slow heavy leverage... in other words, leave the hammer in the tool box. ;-) Are there any signs I should look for on the old bolt, or should I just replace it? Sue told me that the old ones are a two piece part. One being the D shaped bow eye with permanent bolt, and the lifting eye on the inside which acts as a nut. The new one is three pieces. The threaded bolt (which I will have to cut) and the two eyes.
White Bear	posted 07-21-2009 11:05 AM ET (US) The enemy of good is better. The system appears sound, it is working as intended and you are seeing some flex in the hull which is independent of the system you wish to disassemble to check. Leave it alone.