leong Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 The stern eye that the stern toggle is attached to is starting to wiggle. It’s almost 5 feet from the back of the stern hatch cover so can’t reach under to tighten it. The only solution I can think of is to train a squirrel to use a ratchet wrench. Any ideas out there? -Leon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David M Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 Leon, If the squirrel doesn't cooperate, I've used a similar approach to this to resolve a tight-quarters maneuver. 1. Tape your smart phone or video camera to a pole or stick of sufficient length to see what the underside in fact looks like. You may need supplemental lighting. 2. Assuming there are two nuts on either end of the u-bolt, secure a ratchet wrench to a sturdy, yet trim piece of pipe and patiently give it a go. 3. Consider providing extra security to keep the socket from getting knocked off the wrench I might consider loctite or a substitute. 4. I'd also probably opt for turning the boat over to allow the wrench to "drop" onto the nut In all likelihood much easier said than done. Good luck! David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leong Posted March 7, 2017 Author Share Posted March 7, 2017 Thanks, David. Good idea. I'd first call QCC (the boat's manufacturer) to get more information about the nut size (not for the squirrel), type and what's down there. So far the stern eye is just wiggling very slightly and I don't use it to carry the boat. -Leon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Anderson Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 You could try a right angle socket adapter with the appropriate extensions deep socket and a ratchet, you might need to fasten the affair to a length of board to stiffen it. About $25 - $30 on Amazon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philip Anderson Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 Ignore the pink thing on the wish list... Not mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leong Posted March 8, 2017 Author Share Posted March 8, 2017 The hard part will be to seat a socket on an unseen nut over 4 feet away. I think I need something like an endoscope with a remotely controlled wrench. I guess it will be cheaper to buy a new kayak. I'll probably wait until the eye comes out and install something from the outside (a watertight toggle bolt?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Sylvester Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 Use duct tape to push the loop down tight which should create a gap under washers or washer plate. Invert and place stern down in such a way that you could dribble epoxy around bolt and have it stay for the cure period.( I reach down with a dixie cup 1/2 full) Needed epoxy should stay put and some may not bond and fall away over time. You could remove, fill and rework the toggle? Leon, An aside... Thanks for the pics of FLA a few weeks back....here is my boat shed at the same time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfolster Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 Id go the squirrel route. https://www.a-zanimals.co.uk/animals-for-hire/british-nature-for-hire/red-squirrel-for-hire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leong Posted March 9, 2017 Author Share Posted March 9, 2017 7 hours ago, cfolster said: Id go the squirrel route. https://www.a-zanimals.co.uk/animals-for-hire/british-nature-for-hire/red-squirrel-for-hire Excellent, Cathy. They they even have squirrels wearing little pink work clothes. Thanks, -Leon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason Posted March 9, 2017 Share Posted March 9, 2017 Bring the boat to Maine, I have long arms... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Martinsen Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Failing the squirrel and remote control wrench... Remove the stern eye, repair the fibreglass if needed, and rivet on some raised deck fittings for a replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leong Posted March 10, 2017 Author Share Posted March 10, 2017 6 hours ago, jason said: Bring the boat to Maine, I have long arms... I may have to do that. I'll measure the span. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leong Posted March 10, 2017 Author Share Posted March 10, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, John Martinsen said: Failing the squirrel and remote control wrench... Remove the stern eye, repair the fibreglass if needed, and rivet on some raised deck fittings for a replacement. Ugh, cut a rectangle through the gel-coat/carbon-fiber and push the stern eye out through the bottom. I don't know what the eye is fastened to. Probably some reinforced section. I assume the stern eye looks like this ->http://www.go2marine.com/product/78277F/sea-dog-stern-eye-with-adjustable-finish-nuts.html . I doubt that the rectangular flange on the bottom is just seated up against the bottom of the thin top deck (it's an 18' boat that weighs only 38 lbs.). The repair job for that is doable, but not for me (especially working with carbon cloth). So far the stern eye is just wiggling a little and I try and avoid any force on it. But it anchors the rear deck lines so there's always some horizontal force on it. Anyway, before tackling such a big job I'll wait until it breaks loose itself (hopefully, not while someone is doing a T-rescue on me; note to self: practice and practice rolls Edited March 10, 2017 by leong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Martinsen Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Without seeing what's inside, it's hard to know how to get the stern eye unfastened, so I'm just guessing. You could try getting a photo your cell phone, or put it in video mode and slide it back there. I've done that trying to locate a leak in a skeg box. To remove it you could probably use a hacksaw to cut the eye in half, and using pliers, see if you can unscrew the now two separate posts from whatever they are attached to inside. If that doesn't work and they just spin, cut through the posts as close to the deck as you can get, and hopefully just push the posts through. If that doesn't work I'd try to drill them out. Or try "tightening" it up with a little epoxy, and see how long that holds. You could try calling QCC and see if they have a solution? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyork Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Haven't used it before, but thinking "inside the box (stern)", ?FaceTime on iPhone if you subscribe and know someone who could lend a similar phone. With a little portable torch of some kind, you might be able to see what you're doing in there, as frustrating as it will surely be, with whatever you have otherwise MacGuyvered! gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_Crouse Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Sears sells an inspection mirror that should give you a view of the nut. One one those and an extension ratchet should do it. It's important to get the sears inspection mirror because the mirror detaches and it turns into a magnetic pick up tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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