gudgeon screws

Several of my 12-24 gudgeon bolts have stripped the threads out of the 1/4" aluminum backing plate inside of the hull. If I upsize the bolts to 1/4-20, can I just tap the aluminum plate from the outside with a 1/4-20 tap or should I enlarge the size of the hole in the aluminum plate first and if so, what size drill bit should I use? Also, if I upgrade to the one-piece die cast gudgeons, should I drill two additional holes in each transom (and internal aluminum plate) or are the original 6 holes enough?

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Tim
84 H16
82 H16
87 H14T
Tortola Sails: 115222
Blue Prism Sails: 88863
Clearwater, FL

Just tap to 1/4 "....no need to redrill.....it's only slightly larger. Six screws worked fine for me W/the one-piece gudgeon retrofit. However, you may want to read a more extensive discussion (including the fact that the one-piece gudgeons aren't a direct fit to US H-16s) toward the end of this thread:

http://www.catsailor.com/forums/showfla ... art=1&vc=1

BTW...Have you hooked up with the local Hobie sailors in your area? There are some great folks in your area, and the FWB and PCB fleets are more active than they've been in a long time. Let me know if you need contact info.

Jerome Vaughan
Hobie 16
Clinton, Mississippi

I was able to just tap with a 1/4" on some of the holes except 2 of the holes had already been upsized to 1/4" and one of them has stripped it's threads so I may try putting a 5/16" x 18 x 1" in that hole instead of the one piece gudgeon.

I have been working with Brad at SunJammers and just last Sunday we had 6 Hobies from fleets 120(PCB) and 178(FWB) out for a fun day of sailing in St. Andrews Bay where the 2008 East Midwinters were held.



Thanks

_________________
Tim
84 H16
82 H16
87 H14T
Tortola Sails: 115222
Blue Prism Sails: 88863
Clearwater, FL

I just "upgraded" to the one piece gudgeon. Because they are not a direct replacement, I had to bore out the gudgeon plate holes to 5/16 just to get the stock #12 screws to line up. I also had to grind down the shoulders of the gudgeon hinges because the heads on the pan head screws are too wide and foul the hinges before they go fully home (flush). Hobie should go with a fillister head or hex key or something else than pan head screws in the conversion kit. Anyway the point is that up sizing the hardware to 1/4 or 5/16 may not even be possible with the one piece gudgeon.

Cool...that's what I was hoping to hear. You were probably sailing with some good friends of mine....Karl & Bridget.

Jerome

I was successful in upsizing to 1/4" and installing the one-piece gudgeons. The screw heads were large so there were some interference issues that made it a PITA...worked fine though.

Jerome