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Location: Crystal Lake, IL | Anyone have any insight on this? I've got an '06 GT1760. 3 of the 5 bolt studs in the bow casting seat base mount have been stripped for quite a while. The screws are fine - the nuts under the base spin with the screws. Starting to get nervous!
I can't see any way to get access beneath, so I'm wondereing if these are similar to trolling motor inserts that install from the top and expand. I can't remove the base because I can't remove the screws.
Thanks.
Edited by Altarocks 5/2/2010 2:30 PM
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Member
Posts: 38
| Unfortunatly you will probably have to cut them off as there is no way that I know of to access them.You may have to bust up the base itself to cut the screws if they are not backed out far enough to cut.Once you have the old one removed you can use toggle bolts( the good ones) to replace the old nuts in the floor.I do alot of rigging on boats and it is always best to use the fastest spinning drill you have available to turn the screws out.It seems the slower you spin them the more likely it is to spin the nuts in the floor.If you have not tried it yet, pry up hard on the floor plate with a pry bar and try to spin those screws out that with a drill sometimes you can get them that way.Good Luck. |
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Location: Crystal Lake, IL | Thanks brettking. That's what I was afraid I'd hear. I did try prying up on the base, but still spinning.
I was hoping a Tuffy rep might read this and offer some help. I tried to get my boat in to the factory from December '08 thru Feb '09, but was told they were too busy preparing for show circuits. I was finally told I could bring it in April '09, but who wants to give up their boat in April? I gave up on the factory and didn't try last winter. I did take it to a local (relatively!) dealer, but they couldn't help and really didn't seem to be very familiar with Tuffy boats. |
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Member
Posts: 3899
| Obviously the fishing season is now underway, and you don't want to give up your boat. Can you live with this for this summer? If so, I would call Tuffy, and make an appointment to have this taken care of as soon as they can get you in after the season. Their service is econd to none, and I am confident you will be well taken care of.
Edited by Shep 5/5/2010 11:58 AM
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Location: Rhinelander | Actually, that issue is one best dealt with by a servicing Tuffy dealer if the customer desires some one else fixes the problem. The seat bases are mounted with T Nuts like dozens of other builders mount theirs, so it shouldn't be an issue with most dealers.
The best way to fix this at home failing what Brett suggested is to drill the bolts out from the top with a new, very sharp drill bit. When you get to the base, the screw head will have been drilled away and the bolt will then push through the deck. It may be necessary to wedge the base from the bottom to put enough pressure on the bolt to drill it out without spinning. it helps to use a bit of cutting oil, but not much; don't want it all over the carpet up there. |
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Location: Crystal Lake, IL | Thanks for the feedback. Like I said, I took the boat to Even Keel in Rockford - the only Tuffy dealer remotely closet to the Chicago NW suburbs (but still 2-1/2 hours round trip x 2). I had two problems - a non-working fuel gauge and the seat base. They couldn't address either and suggested contacting Tuffy directly. I have always heard good things about Tuffy service, but as I explained I personally haven't seen it. My intent here is not to bash Tuffy; rather I simply want to get my base fixed, so I'll let it go and try to follow Steve's advice and drill them out myself. Thanks.
Edited by Altarocks 5/8/2010 3:22 PM
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Location: Rhinelander | Marine Diversified is in Burlington just over the WI border, quite close to you, and will be happy to fix the issues you mention. Mike at 262.206.3045. I'm surprised that John wasn't able to help you at Even Keel; are you saying you had the rig there and he couldn't fix the issues? |
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Location: Crystal Lake, IL | Steve,
I'll PM you about this.
Eric
Edited by Altarocks 5/13/2010 10:39 AM
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Location: Crystal Lake, IL | Anyone have any suggestions what type of drill bit to use to drill out stainless steel screw heads? |
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Member
Posts: 219
| A cobalt bit at slow speed and use cutting oil. |
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