Laser Radial Toestrap Repair

Sorry Peter, I've never heard of that before on a laser.

Is your question how to get the rusted screws out, or what to put in their place (or something else)?

What to replace them with is easy enough, stainless steel screws of the same size with just a smear of zinc chromate paste to make them last longer.

Presumably though they haven't actually rusted away completely, instead you have 'orrible rusted stumps where they used to be. And that's a nightmare. Its a job that's much easier if you've done it 20 times before. So do you know anyone who restores old motor vehicles or motorcycles or something and has done this job umpteen times before? If so point them at your boat and a generous number of unopened bottles of good beer sitting in the bottom of it...

Edited by JimC - 25 Jun 15 at 1:32pm

The screws required are:- No. 10 X 1 1/4" Countersunk Pozi Self Tap in A4 (marine grade) stainless steel

Either undo them with a mole grip as suggested by Jim C or use a screw/stud extractor. Grind the remains of the screw head flat. Use a center punch in the middle and then pick a drill which goes with the relevant extractor and drill a hole into the old screw. Screw the screw extractor into the hole in the old screw and turn anticlockwise which should (if you are luck) unscrew the old screw. Alternatively grind the old screws flat and cover with epoxy or glass resin to prevent more rust. Alternatively re-attach the toe strap nearby. There are wooden blocks underneath the deck which is what the screws go into. If you drill with a very fine drill into where you want to re-attach them you should see bits of timber on the drill. If you do then you can drill a bit bigger hole for the screws. I use silicon to make sure the seal between the screws and the boat is water tight.