Weaver Davit Install Question 2011 R29

[fishheadbarandgrill]

I’m preparing to have a boatyard install the 4” offsets as part of a new install. The yard engineer wants to epoxy sleeves through the core of the swim platform because he thinks the core will be compressed by the bolts. Does the factory take the same precaution? Any owners who’ve done this install used sleeves?

 

[Red Raven]

I don’t think it will compress if a sufficiently sized backing plate is used but you definitely want to seal the interior of the holes to prevent water intrusion. Epoxy sleeves sounds like a great idea!

Curt

 

[captstu]

My R25 has a solid swim platform and Weaver davits for her Walker Bay dinghy


Stuart Bell
Ranger 25: Shearwater
(561) 352-1796

 

[Red Raven]

Maybe a bit more info is warranted. While the earlier boats had solid swim grids the newer models have a molded fiberglass grid with a foam core (at least ours does). On our boat there are wood inserts embedded in the glass where the swim rail posts attach. Anywhere else and it’s foam. When I drilled holes for an additional support for my dinghy motor I hit foam and water came out of the hole. The structure was strong, however, so I let it dry and filled with 3M 5200 before inserting the bolts. I used fender washers for backing as the new post is secured at the top for strength. For the weaver Davits there are galvanized plates a bit larger than the davit base above.

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

I spoke with the factory. They don’t use compression sleeves. Only a good backing plate. No reported problems. So that’s the route I’m going.

 

[jagizzi]

So your yard is suggesting the proper approach. The epoxy seals the bolt holes and isolates the core against water intrusion. I can't imagine it's that much more expensive or time consuming to pour the epoxy and then drill the bolt holes through it. I would definitely go with their recommendation and then use them going forward as they clearly know what they are doing.