Loose grabhandle

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eddystone

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On the Sadler 32 there are wooden grabhandles either side of the washboards on the inside. One, on the starboard side, is a bit loose (maybe 2-3mm). As far as I can see it is attached by 2 screws but there are no plugs and no indications of laminations - in other words no way of accessing the fixings. Can't see any way of accessing from the other side. The only solution I can think of is squeezing in some epoxy and clamp. Have I missed something?
 
I had a quick look at some brokerage picture to try and refresh my 31 year old memory of being in a 32 - but it didn't prove conclusive. It is a liner moulding there isn't it?

I'm a bit surprised, but if there really aren't any plugs then they must have screwed them on before the deck mouldings got put together. Perfectly normal for winches, cleats etc. but a bit of a headache for you now. I'd want something a bit more positive than a dubious glue joint there.

It's likely that the gap between the mouldings was made as thin as possible, so I'd be firstly trying to find the screwheads with a strong magnet, but expecting that not to work and resorting to prodding the grp where the screwheads might be - I think that could work on a fairly flat area such as you have there. If you find them that way then a hole saw with a really short exposed drill tip - of a size to suit the matching colour plastic bungs I for got to tell you to buy before starting the job. Remove the old screws, drill right through, bolt them up and plug the holes.

Failing that the you've got two more choices. Cut larger openings to get access and cover them with something decorative when you finish up, or, from outside drill right through, countersink for the screw and a plug, and then on the inside use the hole to pilot a holesaw big enough for a penny washer and nut. Chosen carefully you should be able to find some suitable diameter blanking plugs from the same shop....

Now the snag with that last one is that you may hit the existing screws, their heads or their washers. Messy.

So my last idea is that you buy or make some new handles of the same size, split the old ones off and use the method above to drill through, fit and cap the liner moulding.
 
Somewhere I have a set of instructions for completing a Sadler 32 from the kits they once supplied. (Provided with the factory finished boat, mine wasn't a kit)

Don't know if that was covered though. I'll try and find them.
 
If the handles are loose enough to get the blade of a multitool behind them, that would be my first line of attack.

Once the handles are off, I'd enlarge the hole, fill with thickened epoxy then drill for something like this
ae235

You may be able to find stainless ones, but I reckon a bit of copper grease in the interior thread would keep corrosion at bay for a good while. I've used them on my engine cover and they're still fine after a good many years.
 
I haven't found the building instructions yet but on ours the grab handles are attached to the wooden interior framework around the hatch way.

Perhaps the framework needs to be removed to access the grab handle fixings?
 
James_Calvert said:
I haven't found the building instructions yet but on ours the grab handles are attached to the wooden interior framework around the hatch way.

Perhaps the framework needs to be removed to access the grab handle fixings?
Click to expand...
I don’t think there are any obvious fixings for the wooden framework so I wouldn’t know how to remove it but I’m guessing it’s all hidden behind the deck moulding . Could post a photo next time I get down to the boat
 
I can't see any fixing holes on the inside of the hatch way frame. There are some on the exterior.

The construction is bedded into sealant and I wouldn't want to take mine out without a very good reason.
 
Are you sure there are not plugged screw holes in the grabrails themselves ?

Don't know about Sadler - but some boats the screws were from the handle into the structure - then the wood plug that had been cut out to let screw enter was then glued back in taking care to align grain etc. Done properly - its extremely hard to see the 'plugs'.
 
Refueler said:
Are you sure there are not plugged screw holes in the grabrails themselves ?

Don't know about Sadler - but some boats the screws were from the handle into the structure - then the wood plug that had been cut out to let screw enter was then glued back in taking care to align grain etc. Done properly - its extremely hard to see the 'plugs'.
Click to expand...
I will have another look when I next get down to boatyard.
 
Well I had a look and definitely no plugs so these handles are attached with fixings concealed within companionway moulding. So definitely will be a glue and clamp job
 
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