John wrote:
I have a 13' sailboat. The leads from the jib go to a seat mounted across
the boat, just behind the mast. First they go through U shaped piece and
then accross the seat to a cam-cleat.
The seat is attached by 6 screws, two to each side and two to the
daggerboard housing. (Please excuse the lack of proper terminology, but I
hope you will know what I mean.) Some of the screws have worked their way
loose, so I removed the seat to fix it.
The screw simply go into pretty thin fiberglass; there is nothing behind the
fiberglass. The screws have simply stripped out the fiberglass. I can put
down a couple new layers of glass, but I expect it will just strip out
again. There is no access to the bottom to add a backer.

So, my question...
I can move the U shaped pieces about 5" out to the gunnels, where the
material is much thicker and where I can use bolts intead of screws. That
should take most of the upwards stress off the seat. But what will happen
to the jib? Will moving the jib lead angle further out ruin something?
Obviously it will change the shape of the jib, but I don't really know
enough to know if it will matter all that much.
Thanks.



It will affect your pointing ability. The boat will not go to
windward as well.

Get some 5 minute epoxy, in twin tubes. Fill the screw holes with
mixed epoxy and toothpick wood. Drill and tap for new screws. To
tap for a screw, take an extra screw and a square fine file to cut a
tooth into the screw point threads, about 3 teeth. drill a hole,
then use the modified screw to cut thread into the set up epoxy /
wood. Turn it in and out, cleaning out the swarf until The thread is
deep enough, or use a backing piece, longer screw, or even a bolt
instead of a screw, possibly with a stainless "T" nut backer.

Terry K