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I'm putting a lean post in a 89 17 Montauk. The floor is somewhat soft in spots and I don't want to redo it. Any info on the best way to anchor the screws is appreciated. I would use a toggler that goes through and spreads but the foam under the floor won't allow it to spread out. Any ideas????
Consult the "Wood Locating Diagrams" downloads on this site. Your best install would be wood screws into these reinforced areas where marine grade ply is 'glassed in' to the hull to act as hard points for just such installs which includes your factory bench seat, console rails, gunwhale rails, cleats etc. If such a hard point exists to mate up with your leaning post application then use it, and be sure to 'seal' the entry point of all hardware with silicone, 5200, or similar. If water invades the 'break' in the deck, then the ply will rot over time and you will lose your structural integrity of that hard point.
If the wood does not underly the 'foot print' of your new post then the toggler bolts are the alternative. After drilling a pilot hole for the toggler, chuck a small Allen Key wrench into a power drill, (long end into drill) insert the smaller end into the hole at an angle, and then square it up with deck. Run the drill at a LOW speed and it wil excavate a cavity for the toggler to open. Do not use cheap steel togglers use for home/dry wall applications. Go to a specialty 'Nut and Bolt' shop and insist on stainless steel. Fill the cavity void with silicone prior to inserting the toggler to ensure a good seal. Do not use 5200 here as it will not allow the toggler bolt screw to back out in disassembly if needed at a later time
Know that the 'skin' on your BW is very thin by engineered design, even on the deck. The hull's integrity relies on a good laminated bond of this skin to the foam. Relying on the toggler bolts only to anchor your post may be detrimental to the integrity of your deck. The leverage of the post, put on the toggler may delamiate your deck further from the foam(the 'soft spots' are iindeed evidence of some delaminating already). Full attachment by wood screws to the glassed in ply is the best way. If a majority of the leaning post can be attached to the wood and a few toggler bolts used may be OK. If the foot print of the leaning post will not allow for anchor into the reinforced area at all, I would pass on the install. I have seen pedistal type captain chairs installed with dire result because they were not positioned over reinforced areas.
