I pulled the dodger snaps on my boat yesterday and there is no
question they were the cause of the leak. I could see the spot of
light while looking up in the narrow slot where the water was coming
from.

The screws were all rusty (this was a fresh water boat so the PO was
not as careful about metal choices as a salt water owner) and the
snaps quite loose. When you consider the strain that wind and other
forces can put on these snaps that may only be in an quarter inch of
fiberglass, having them stay watertight is a forlorn hope.

These screw in snaps should always be considered suspect in a boat;
especially if they can let water into the deck core. Fortunately, my
boat has a solid glass deck and cabin to so I just have some wet wood
and damp ceiling liner. I caught it before any rot started in the
cabin bulkhead.

I would never put these snaps in a boat. Dodger attachments need to
be studs with two screws in a plate and proper bedding. High stress
points should probably be through bolted.

--

Roger Long