Boat buckles question

[nate kennedy]

I just brought our boat home from storage to get everything ready for summer finally. I bought some boat buckles over the winter and am going to install them in the morning. I was looking at it tonight and I noticed there is no where to get a wrench in there to tighten up the bolt and nut for the mounting. What has everyone else done with these? Drill all the way through? Looking for
Some advice on what others have done.

Thanks

 

[haknslash]

Mine just mounted to the existing tab near the tail light. No drilling required on mine. Do the larger boat trailer have different mounting areas?

 

[ThatJeepGuy]

Not sure since my boat had the tabs like @haknslash but DO NOT USE the bolts that came with the boat buckles. They seize as you’re tighten them and you won’t be able to snug them tight. Go to your local hardware store and pick up the right ones

 

[djetok]

My 21 foot same tab on the painted trailer

 

[nate kennedy]

I have the tab just didn’t seem like the best angle for the Rachet part and I have seen others mounted to the frame of the trailer.. I’ll look into mounting to the tabs in the morning and even just try it like that. Wasn’t sure how it would function but if yours is there don’t see why mine can’t be!

Thanks for the info

 

[haknslash]

Mine has worked perfect on the tab for a couple of years now. I bought my boat buckles right after I bought my boat and wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Shannon]

Make sure and get a different nut for the bolt like @ThatJeepGuy said. Very good point from him!! I found out the hard way. Had to cut one off when I stopped wrenching the nut all the way on. Sucked! I am on second season and mounted them just like @haknslash did. They are still snug and have no issues. I went with the stainless and love them. One of the best mods for sure!

 

[haknslash]

The bolts and nuts that come with them can gall easily. Mine were a bit stubborn but I went real slow and they made it all the way.

 

[ThatJeepGuy]

The bolts and nuts that come with them can gall easily. Mine were a bit stubborn but I went real slow and they made it all the way.

Not worth the gamble. For $2 it's just not worth my time. But that's just 1 man's opinion....

 

[haknslash]

Not worth the gamble. For $2 it's just not worth my time. But that's just 1 man's opinion....

For sure there are better fasteners to buy and use and I agree the bolts and nuts are not the best to use. However as long as you go slow they will work. Galling happens on those threads VERY easily if you crank on them to get the friction and heat going. You can't go ratcheting on them like they are a lug nut which I think is what some people experience when they eventally cold weld the threads and have to end up cutting them off. I'm just stubborn and didn't want to drive across town lol so I made them work for me.

 

[adrianp89]

Not worth the gamble. For $2 it's just not worth my time. But that's just 1 man's opinion....

This x10000. I tried to go nice and slow. Ended up having to spend an hour trying to get it off, then decided to get out the old trust hacksaw. Spend the $2 and save your self an hour.

 

[haknslash]

So what you guys are really saying is you're just weak and need mo' muscle? I'm kidding of course .

I would just buy new hardware / better fasteners. The reviews on Amazon and other places all mention how hard the fasteners can be so its been this way for them for a long time now. Maybe I just got lucky . They were certainly a pain to screw on and there were times I thought they weren't going to go but all went well in the end. I have zero intention of taking them off and they will go with the new owner of the boat lol.

 

[Jgorm]

I would only consider stainless bolts.

 

[Zonie]

Mine attached at the factory tabs, but I did need to "adjust" the angle slightly.