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Stem fitting questions
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Zeke Durica
6/2/2026 12:59 PM
you are correct. You can pack that gap with 5200 when you caulk the bolts. If the lower bolt is not grabbing, see if you can feel around in there and see if there is some solid wooden backing. If not, drill out that hole to 3/8 or slightly larger if you can and fille it with a new hardwood 3/8 dowel and epoxy it in place. Let it cure and redrill pilot hole for your lag bolt. 
If the wooden backing block is rotted, getting to that is going to be a much bigger issue. Lets hope it still has some meat left in it to glue too. 

zeke
Mike Vining
6/1/2026 10:36 PM

So I had some work done and the stem fitting was removed. I had it chromed.


Two questions about what’s normal for an old Ensign and reinstalling the fitting.


1) When putting the fitting back on there is a gap between the bow and the fitting. Normal?


2) The stem fitting had a long 3/8-16 FH SS bolt thru the bow. The lower bolt was a #24 x 3.0 FH SS wood screw (3/8” dia) just attached into the glass and wood underneath. Doesn’t seem like that screw adds much strength to the stem fitting. Are other boats the same? What’s the alternative?


Thanks,


Mike Vining

USA 101

Second Chance


443 is available to a good home
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