Railing screws loose

[johnyeamans]

So, I have rain water coming into the boat. Many of the screws holding down the railing don't tighten. I took down the ceiling under over the sink and found that the screw is bolted. It's not easy reaching them. Has anyone done this before? I own a 1987 Trojan international. Suggestions are appreciated.

[fourreins]

I was just at the marina today working on that. I have a 10.8 international which I had a mishap last year and bent a stanchion. I was trying to remove the second one up from the stern on the starboard side. What a nightmare! My international has the bunkbeds and I finally located the bolts in one of the access panels. I was unable to get to it today but am hoping maybe tomorrow. The first stanchion on that side has the nuts within the sliding access panels. What is odd is that I only see two nuts on the one and the stanchion has three screws. I can't get that one off either.... Do you know if some have one bolt versus two or three thru hull mounts???? I guess you need a long extion on the ratchet wrench....

[BobCT]

The "ends" (closest to the helm) have three long bolts from up top which go through the railing base.

The rest of the stanchions have three screws into the deck PLUS a nut inside the cabin. The ends of the stanchions are threaded about 4".
Once you get one out they're all the same. Getting to the nut inside the cabin is the challenging part.

I have two bent stanchions on the way to Bob for either straightening or replacement.

Bob

[fourreins]

The end stanchion closest to the helm is an issue. You say the three bolts have nuts on the inside??? I can only see two of the nuts from the inside. I see the two.... any thought on the third nut?

[johnyeamans]

I must be getting old. My Trojan is an 11 meter 38'. I just can't stand rain water leaks coming through the railing bolts! Every time it rains I have water on the sink and deck area around the sink. It really is getting to me. I'm going to try fixing it myself. The trouble is getting at those damn bolts. Whoever built the boat never gave consideration to replacing the rail screws and bolts. Either that or they were thinking of the fun some future guy would have undoing them.

Next step if I fail is to have some skinny, young guys at a boat yard do the work for me. Once again, ideas on this are appreciated.

[prowlersfish]

http://www.captaintolley.com/

[Danny Bailey]

My F-36 looks like they took great pains and lots of time building the hull, but when it came time to finish it out, they gave it to a bunch of idiots with no materials. No kidding....who in their right mind would put rub rails on a $90,000 boat with no 5200? Or, bow rails bolted down with something that looked like Play-Doh under the stantion feet. No wonder Trojan went out of business!! Oh yeah, I forgot to mention coring that beautiful foredeck with balsa wood and then not sealing the edges of the cutouts and bolt holes so that after a few years it all turns to mush.

[johnyeamans]

With all the problems, we still love the boat.