My 1992 RAGE has a factory bow rail that extends back maybe two-thirds of the boat’s length. It has integral stanchions ending in a flat round stainless plate that is screwed with sheet metal screws into the top of the of the boat sides.
I think there are three screws. Many of the screws have backed themselves out a half-turn.
The screws are bleeding rust stains between the stanchion plate and the fiberglass top of the sides.
Some screws re-tighten, but many just spin.
I can’t imagine they are just screwed into the fiberglass glass.
There is no way to access the underside.
I haven’t pulled off the rail yet.
Q1: Is there a metal or wood backing plate under the fiberglass?
Q2: Is the fiberglass glass thick enough to hold a sheet metal screw?
Q3: What is causing all the rust stains?
RAGE bow rail stanchion mount
Re: RAGE bow rail stanchion mount
You need to put epoxy in the holes and redrill to tighten. You can use a an adhesive like 4200 or 5200 but it may be hard to remove them in the future. The rust stains can be rust as SS is not rust proof, it is stainLESS so when water gets around them, they rust. It can also be from the foam under the fiberglass turning brown and staining the water. I am not sure if there is wood embedded on the gunwales of a Rage.
On my 24th Whaler. Currently in the stable: 86 18' Outrage, 81 13' Sport(original owner), 87 11' Sport, 69 Squall(for sale cheap).
Re: Rage bow rail stanchion mount
A1: To find out if or where there are embedded reinforcements in a hull made by Boston Whaler, contact Boston Whaler and ask for the embedded wood locating diagram for the particular model, year, and length boat.
A2: Boston Whaler boats just about NEVER rely on a screw fastener to only obtain purchase in a thin laminate layer. Any screw fastener that is involved in mounting a railing will be fastened into reinforcement material.
For repair advice specific to loose rail fasteners, see the answer to this frequently-asked question in the FAQ article in the REFERENCE section.
The website has much more content than just this forum.
The website organization is hierarchical.
From the CONTINUOUSWAVE.com top page browse to the WHALER section.
From the WHALER top page browse to the REFERENCE section.
From the REFERENCE top page browse to the FAQ article.
If you cannot find the FAQ article here is a direct hypertext link or URL:
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/
If you understand a URL you can see the hierarchical organization that is used.
Reading the entire FAQ is recommended for new visitors.
If you are a millennial you probably already stopped reading. If you are still reading and have not yet found the FAQ answer about loose rail fastener repair, here is a direct link to that individual answer:
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/#Q7
A2: Boston Whaler boats just about NEVER rely on a screw fastener to only obtain purchase in a thin laminate layer. Any screw fastener that is involved in mounting a railing will be fastened into reinforcement material.
For repair advice specific to loose rail fasteners, see the answer to this frequently-asked question in the FAQ article in the REFERENCE section.
The website has much more content than just this forum.
The website organization is hierarchical.
From the CONTINUOUSWAVE.com top page browse to the WHALER section.
From the WHALER top page browse to the REFERENCE section.
From the REFERENCE top page browse to the FAQ article.
If you cannot find the FAQ article here is a direct hypertext link or URL:
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/
If you understand a URL you can see the hierarchical organization that is used.
Reading the entire FAQ is recommended for new visitors.
If you are a millennial you probably already stopped reading. If you are still reading and have not yet found the FAQ answer about loose rail fastener repair, here is a direct link to that individual answer:
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/#Q7