Cabin sole boards - screwing down

There are some good methods but when you need about ten of them they can be rather costly. I did a search on "cam latches" and came up with 2 possibilities. I have bought one of each to evaluate them

Home Stainless Steel Toolbox Cabinet Quarter Turn Cam Lock
Nidus Privacy Bolt PL60SS 5mm Cam 60mm Backset Stainless Steel

Google each description (above) and you will see a picture/cost/supplier (only about $6 ea)
 
There seem to be an equal number of boats lost due to screwed down soles preventing access to leak as people seriously injured by either flying sole boards or trying to stand where a sole board has floated away.
I like the idea of Dzus fasteners or similar.
 
I think you have to assume that underwater holing may occur somewhere you cannot reach, hence most sole boards may as well be screwed down. On my own fairly typical modern GRP boat, if the hole was under either forward or aft water tank or under the shower tray it would take me at least 5-10 minutes to access the hole even in panic mode with a wrecking bar or fire axe, neither of which I carry on board. In comparison a few screws per sole board are pretty quick.

I have been on boats with bad leaks, and have been inverted, but never holed....
 
jwilson.
I am building a yacht and I do not have sole boards where I can't reach. Under all cabinetry there are secured (barrel bolted) panels for easy removal. I would have trouble if I was holed in the internally ballasted keel since I have my water tanks down there. The tanks are removable but that would take time.
 
coopec said:
jwilson.
I am building a yacht and I do not have sole boards where I can't reach. Under all cabinetry there are secured (barrel bolted) panels for easy removal. I would have trouble if I was holed in the internally ballasted keel since I have my water tanks down there. The tanks are removable but that would take time.
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You have the luxury (paid for in time and effort) of designing how the boat is fitted out. Most production boats now pay less and less attention to internal access, in fact almost all mass-prodution boats now use inner GRP egg-box linings. Nice shiny dry bilge storage/compartments, stiffens the hull nicely, but dozens of points where you have no internal access to the actual hull without a saw.

I look at a lot of yachts, and it's very rare indeed to find one where every area of the hull could be accessed quickly. Holing is pretty rare, and those paranoid about it tend to buy or build steel or alloy yachts, or "unsinkable" Etaps/Sadlers, or fit collision bulkheads. I admit to having felt occasional twinges of been nerves at surfing along sailing flat out in the pitch dark, but the enjoyment soon dispelled the nerves.
 
coopec said:
Buck

I don't think they are the Dzus fastening solution - they look like the PYI anchors.

http://pyiinc.com/index.php?section=panel_anchor


For my boat I would need about 20 so it would not be a cheap exercise for me
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Well they operate exactly like Dzus fasteners and are designed to hold floor panels down.

I agree they cost a bomb but nobody mentioned priced so far in the thread!
 
Hoolie said:
Excellent suggestion! I have used B&Q mega velcro but it is probably too strong for this application.
Some of our boards have finger holes and it should be possible to lift them to gain access to the rest.
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I noticed the other day that you could buy sticky back Velcro from B & Q in nice boxes for an extortinate amount of money (I think it was north of £20 for 2m) or you could go to their "on the reel" section woth chain and rope and find the same velcro at about £1.30 per m for each bit - a far cheaper option.
 
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