Removing the bow cleat

[Sunsetrider]

Thanks Nick - while you were typing that I was down at the boat and successfully removed the cleat. First I scored around the base of each fitting, then applied a product Marine De Bond. Then I removed the screws holding the dowel in place, slid the dowel out a bit and used it as a lever to rotate the fittings off the bolts, sort of a reverse de-bolting. Worked a charm! The tough part now seems to be removing the steel plate backing and bolt studs from under the deck. I've sprayed that with the de bond and will revisit tomorrow.

Any suggestion as to how best to coat the sandwich edges to be created by the new holes in the deck? Marine silicon sealant?

[NickScheuer]

A sharp chisel (which you don't value the edge much) and a hammer ought to pop off that backing plate. I have chisels on my bench which only touch wood, and a couple of others which are used to smack all sorts of things.

[Sunsetrider]

I've pre-sprayed with the stuff that has worked up top, and will go back down to the boat in a day or 2 to try out that exact technique. My chisel has never filled its intended purpose so is perfect for this type of task. The adhesive on the stuck bolt and the residue around the base of the now-removed collars is red. That probably means something. I will be using blue when I replace the nuts. From my motorcycle days, "in blue I trust."

[Jay Knoll]

Any suggestion as to how best to coat the sandwich edges to be created by the new holes in the deck? Marine silicon sealant?[/quote]

I would put tape on the underside of the hole and pour West system or its equivalent in each hole

[Sunsetrider]

No, I mean around the inner circumference of the holes that will remain. In particular the large hole for the rode to enter the locker.

[Sunsetrider]

Here is the bow line-up before removing the cleat. Yiu can see why it needs to move.

[Jay Knoll]

No, I mean around the inner circumference of the holes that will remain. In particular the large hole for the rode to enter the locker.

I would still use west system brush it on the exposed edges