Problem with front pedestal pole

This topic has 6 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 10 months ago by kensmith5445.

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

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July 31, 2012 at 12:07 am #260341

kensmith5445
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Ive got a problem with my front pedestal pole leaning severely on my 1995 Pantera. It is an aftermarket pole ( SeaSense- 3/4″ pin I think). There is a bushing in the deck. There is some gap, but I dont think enough to cause the amount a leaning I am seeing. When I look under the deck there is a gap between the pole thats glassed to the bottom of the boat and the bottom of the deck. Im assuming there is a metal plate on top of deck. Is the plate supposed to be attached to the pole under the deck, or the deck bonded to the pole? If so is there any easy way to repair it? Wasnt sure if the plate and pole can be removed or repaired without some major work. Any info on how this thing is made would be appreciated.

July 31, 2012 at 1:23 am #260342

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

I doubt the pedestal is faulty , put your pole back in and pull on it to see if base is moving. Those bushings wear out . You can replace bushing from basscat.sis it small black bushing? Is it small black bushing. Use can use jigsaw to cut sections of the bushing to get it out. When you replace it , put a little pet jelly on it and tap or hammer it in , and use 2×4 as your surface to hammer on. After it is in, you will most likely have chase the bushing with 3/4 drill bit., hope this helpsPete

July 31, 2012 at 3:01 am #260343

Bass Cat Boats
Keymaster

This is not the issue. There is probably a base bushing faulty. These are to piece parts that are actually machined so the top bolt in base fits into h lower glassed in stem base. There have been incidents where the top piece broke at the casting joint or upper base hid under the carpeting.

July 31, 2012 at 8:47 pm #260344

kensmith5445
Participant

Its the bracket. The pipe/nipple that protrudes through the deck and into the lower pole is broken. Looks like a weld or casting broke. Ordered a new one from Pete @ BassCat today, as well as new rivets for the deck lid. I understand I must drill out the rivets, remove the lid, and pull back the carpet to access the plate. I am a little leary of how hard it will be to remove the carpet. It was replaced a while back, and am not sure how much glue they used. A friend suggested I just cut around the old plate and remove it, then put the new plate over the carpet. Not sure how that would look, since it looks like the fiberglass is recessed a little to make everything flat when the carpet is laid down. At this point Im not doing anything until I get the new plate to see what it looks like. While Im waiting Ill call the carpet guy to see how difficult removing the carpet will be. Thanks for your help guys. Just glad to know the problem is minor, with no deck damage involved.

August 1, 2012 at 5:45 pm #260345

BIGCATTER
Participant

I had the same problem on my previous boat , and I just used a razor knife to cut an X ( center of X at post ) in the carpet big enough to get the plate out of the deck . — Repaired the plate and reinstalled . I used good carpet glue ( contact cement ) to put the carpet back down and you could hardly tell it had ever been apart . — No lid removal required to complete the job either . — Just my 2 cents worth . — Mark

August 3, 2012 at 8:15 pm #260346

kensmith5445
Participant

That may be my best option. I think the guys that replaced the carpet may have used a lot of glue. Im going to try to roll the carpet back from the front, but if I have any issues at all Im just going to cut the carpet like you suggested. Depending on how the new plate looks I have thought about putting the plate over the carpet rather than under it. My other boats were made that way. My only concern is that I cant feel where the plate transitions to the deck under the carpet. If the plate fits down into a recess in the deck to make everything flush Im not sure how putting the plate on top will look. The new plate should be here next week. Ill keep you guys posted.

August 6, 2012 at 5:14 pm #260347

kensmith5445
Participant

Problem solved. Cut the old plate out with a razor knife since the carpet and trim were both glued down really well. After trying the plate under the carpet I opted for gluing the carpet to the deck and putting the plate on top of the carpet. Looks good to me. Planning to give it a workout later this week to see how it works.
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