Hiteks in aluminum

[Stickman]

Has anyone ever had the supplied screws pull out of an aluminum boat? I bought bolts, washers, and lock nots to use to install, but my arms just aren't long enough to get them installed this way. Didn't drill any holes yet, but I just don't think I'll ever reach them.
So my question is, has anyone ever had the screws strip out. Would be a lot easier install.
I am putting them on the very front and outside edge of the boat which would put them out there to hit docks and such, but I don't have any intentions of running them into stuff.
Appreciate it.

[Stickman]

Unless any of you are 7 foot and want to come spend an hour in Oklahoma...

[Spaceman]

I don't have Hi-Teks, but will in the future. I have a Black Widow set up where I experienced similar problems. I mounted mine on the bow deck of a War Eagle 548. There is no access to the underneath. I initially used screws with no success...flimsy and stripped. I did not want to cut a hole in the deck to bolt them. So, I replaced the screws with stainless steel rivets which, so far, seem to be holding well.

In the meantime, I was not convinced the rivets would be a good long-term solution, so I bought a marine storage box to mount on the vertical face of the bow deck. This is a stepdown to the platform that holds the seat pedestal. So, I cut a hole in the vertical face and mounted the storage box so that I would not have just a hole or a patch. Now I have a convenient place to store all the BG baby shad baits, and future access if I need to replace the rivets with bolts.

This was my solution for an aluminum boat. I am certainly interested to hear how others have resolved this challenge.

[IkenI]

Mounted my Hi-Teks with screws in my Lund and never had a problem.

[NeonMoon]

Has anyone ever had the supplied screws pull out of an aluminum boat? I bought bolts, washers, and lock nots to use to install, but my arms just aren't long enough to get them installed this way. Didn't drill any holes yet, but I just don't think I'll ever reach them.
So my question is, has anyone ever had the screws strip out. Would be a lot easier install.
I am putting them on the very front and outside edge of the boat which would put them out there to hit docks and such, but I don't have any intentions of running them into stuff.
Appreciate it.

So you have access, and just can't reach it?

[windstone]

Mounted my Hi-Teks with screws in my Lund and never had a problem.

x2 used sheet metal screws i think....

[rockmike]

Never had any problems with sheet metal screws in either aluminum or fiberglass.

[NeonMoon]

Since you're offline, I'll add this in case you're interested. It "seems" like you'd rather use bolts, if that's the case, go to the local Home Improvement Center any buy a cheap RivNut gun. I think I paid $15 for mine, and it came with assorted-size RivNuts.

Make an aluminum plate a little larger than your holder base, and transfer the hole pattern to it, drill the proper-size holes for the appropriate-sized RivNuts, and install them into the plate. Tape the plate to the end of a stick, piece of pipe, whatever, and slide it under the deck while someone starts the bolts into the rivnuts (so 2 people and flashlight required, remember to properly compensate helper with an appropriate refreshment). Tighten the bolts, give the stick a yank, and go fishin.

If you choose the screw-method, don't just drill a hole in the hull for the screws. Drill a small hole, then take an awl and tap it down into the undersized drilled hole. That will "flare" the hull material into a "V" and give your screw more material to bite-into as opposed to just the deck material thickness. Just go slow and don't oversize it (as you'd do with drilling).

[wilbur]

Just to add to what Neon said,if you dont want to buy a rivet nut gun, just tack weld some nuts to the bottom of the plate. Im sure you know a welder near by.

[MEATGETTER]

i have two sets of hi-tec on my excel ihave been all over ar. and ms. the past 3years and not a one has came loose !!!! i used the screws that come with them !!!!!