Mystery bolt found in cockpit. SOLVED!!

[Peter Dubé]

Today while out sailing, I found this bolt / screw laying on the cockpit seat. Oh oh...  I can't determine where it came from. It looks like a number 8, one inch long, flat Phillips head.



Peter

[hoddinr]

Check the traveller bumper ends port or starboard.  They are held in with a hex bolt on my SunCat, but they might be a large screw on yours.
On the other hand, you might have stern led main sheet, and might not even HAVE a traveller! 

Just a thought.

Ron

[Peter Dubé]

Hi Ron,

Nope, it's not the traveler. The traveler ends are intact. The bolt itself seems to be about blackish color.

Peter

[Craig]

Could be from a piece of deck hardware/fitting.

[Peter Dubé]

Well, this is a real mystery. I have checked most Everything pretty thoroughly, and I can't find anything missing. I'm baffled!

Peter

[Tom L.]

Maybe it fell out of your pocket. I know everybody I know thinks I have a screw loose. I'm not saying you have a screw loose just conveying my experience. Hahahaha

Tom L.

[Peter Dubé]

Tom L.,

I think you may be onto something. Ever since that screw appeared my friends are saying that I am much 'more sane....

[Tom L.]

Then I mist be brilliant...not!

[Peter Dubé]

Found where the bolt was from!!!

I was looking around the cockpit at  screws. And saw the screws in the traveler were very similar. That's when I noticed that I was missing a screw from the main sheet cleat.  There are two machine screws that hold the Cam cleats together. One was missing   

[hoddinr]

That's it for sure!  Good news finding it.  I knew it would bug you until you figured it out.

Ron

[Bob23]

Ahhh...so you did have a screw loose! Maybe use Loctite?

[Peter Dubé]

Yes, I should use some thread locker on it.  Then again, it took 10 years to come loose.  I have 10 years now ....