Stopping deckware leaks/redundant hardware

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Ardenfour

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Just about everything screwed or bolted to the deck of my boat leaks - very apparent the last few days of lovely weather. I'm gradually working my way around them, chainplates I've rebedded, now ok, cleats - ok. There are 4 sets of spinnaker pole brackets each with 3 bolts - all leak. That's 24 holes. Rather than rebed them I thought I'm never going to use all that racing gubbins, why not fill all the holes with pan head machine screws, penny washers, and butyl strip as a sealant? It removes what are excellent trip hazards on deck, stops the leaks, and is reversible if I ever wanted to revert.
The deck gelcoat is a light blue so hard to match otherwise I'd fill them all.
Does this sound like a good plan?
 
Niander said:
Absolutely Only a fool would not use only stainless fasteners on a boat!...Go for it
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My friends Trintella had the rubbing strake and hull/deck bolts made of galvanised iron. After 25 years every one was corroded and splitting the rubbing strakes.

Make sure it's quality stainless, lower grades stain badly.
 
Niander said:
Absolutely Only a fool would not use only stainless fasteners on a boat!...
Click to expand...

The ply deck of the Tucker Brown Stellas ( & Tucker Brown was a renowned builder of wood boats)were fixed down with 2 inch galvanised nails. On my second ( 40+ year old) Stella, which I totally rebuilt from a bare hull upwards, the nails were in fairly good nick & were a real devil of a job to get out of the oak beams even after I had removed the ply around them so that the top 9mm was exposed to get a nail bar onto. Rubbing rails etc were the same. So- with due respect- I would suggest that your statement is not quite true
 
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