You have stumbled across a "fatal flaw," as earlier email called it. And my screws are on 8 to 10 inch centers. I do not know if the joint was glassed, but I am pretty certain it wasn't. I bought my boat knowing the problem, because she had other advantages. You may also note that many if not most of the genoa track bolts do not go through both hull and deck mold, so they do not hold things together. I have thought about replacing the screws with bolts or figuring out a way to create a kind of "bolt" to screw over the screw to give more strength. But, given my coastal cruising it is not necessary. If I went off shore--well, I still don't know if it would be worth it. No one I have ever heard about has had a problem with this hull deck joint (except the notes about a leak over the pilot berth, which is probably the cleat.) And finally,one might ask, what was the deck and hull bedded in. If 5200, then I do not understand the reason for bolts anyway (even though everyone says that is best), since 5200 is said to be stronger than the glass. But if not 5200 (and I believe mine was some other, less adhesive compound), then should we worry? Who knows? I hope others respond, because I have often laid awake uselessly worrying about this.
