Winnipesaukee Forum - View Single Post

Dave R · 06-02-2009, 11:13 AM

I'd guess 95% of the fiberglass boats on Winni use the shoebox and sheet metal screw hull to deck joint described in post 315. It's certainly the weakest and cheapest way to build a boat, but is a proven method that enjoys a long history of being adequate, unless done poorly

If you want a better hull to deck joint in a lake-sized craft, you need to go into a go-fast boat, or an off-shore fishing boat. Many of these types of boat makers use adhesive in the joint or glass it over. Others use screws or bolts, nuts, and backing plates. Any of these mothods are superior to plain sheet metal screws through fiberglass.

The only exception I am aware of in the "lake bowrider" class of boats is Bryant. They use through bolts or macnine screws with nuts and aluminum backing plates. There may be others though.

06-02-2009, 11:13 AM	#329
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,985 Thanks: 246 Thanked 744 Times in 444 Posts	I'd guess 95% of the fiberglass boats on Winni use the shoebox and sheet metal screw hull to deck joint described in post 315. It's certainly the weakest and cheapest way to build a boat, but is a proven method that enjoys a long history of being adequate, unless done poorly If you want a better hull to deck joint in a lake-sized craft, you need to go into a go-fast boat, or an off-shore fishing boat. Many of these types of boat makers use adhesive in the joint or glass it over. Others use screws or bolts, nuts, and backing plates. Any of these mothods are superior to plain sheet metal screws through fiberglass. The only exception I am aware of in the "lake bowrider" class of boats is Bryant. They use through bolts or macnine screws with nuts and aluminum backing plates. There may be others though.