Hydro Gate repair - poly washers

[dalesieg]

Hello,
I have a 2015 Ski Nautique and when I was cleaning it recently, I noticed the poly washers that go between the screw and the plate that goes up and down have completely decomposed. Some screws had remanence of the washers and others were completely missing.
I can tell there is a poly washer that goes between the screw and the plate. I cannot find any exploded views of the Hydro Gate so I cannot tell if there is also supposed to be a poly washer between the plate that slides up and down and the plate attached to the boat. Does anyone know if I only need the single washer per screw or do I need two?
Thanks.

[jpwhit]

I've rebuilt the Hydro Gate on my Ski Club's 2012 Nautique 200 two times. Ours doesn't have any poly washers. Each screw that sits in the slot of the plate that moves has a stainless steel spacer and washer. But, check the plates very carefully. Each time I rebuilt ours, once I had everything apart there was a crack in the plate that moves. Unfortunately you can't buy just the one plate. You have to buy the whole set of metal parts. I did initially try to fix it without replacing the plate, but that didn't hold up anytime. i also had to drill out multiple of the screw holes in the fiberglass each time and fill them with marine epoxy and re-drill the right size pilot hole to get the screws to hold firmly.

We do have about 3000 hours on the boat.

[dalesieg]

I've rebuilt the Hydro Gate on my Ski Club's 2012 Nautique 200 two times. Ours doesn't have any poly washers. Each screw that sits in the slot of the plate that moves has a stainless steel spacer and washer. But, check the plates very carefully. Each time I rebuilt ours, once I had everything apart there was a crack in the plate that moves. Unfortunately you can't buy just the one plate. You have to buy the whole set of metal parts. I did initially try to fix it without replacing the plate, but that didn't hold up anytime. i also had to drill out multiple of the screw holes in the fiberglass each time and fill them with marine epoxy and re-drill the right size pilot hole to get the screws to hold firmly.

We do have about 3000 hours on the boat.

Thanks. Interesting about the washer. Mine definitely had the poly washers but looks like they are not critical based on what you said. I don't have nearly that many hours on my boat so hopefully I won't have a cracked plate. How will I know if I have to drill out the holes? I am hoping I don't have to do that.

[jpwhit]

The screws won't get tight.

The washers take the reward force that water puts on the plate trying to pull it away from the back of the hull. I don't see how fiber washers can hold that force. How long have you owned the boat? Could someone before you have "fixed" the Hydro Plate and used the fiber washers? Maybe I'm wrong, maybe they changed the design after 2012, just doesn't seem like fiber washers could hold the loads involved. May be worth a call to Nautique Parts. They would know if the fiber washers were used on your year boat.

[dalesieg]

The screws won't get tight.

The washers take the reward force that water puts on the plate trying to pull it away from the back of the hull. I don't see how fiber washers can hold that force. How long have you owned the boat? Could someone before you have "fixed" the Hydro Plate and used the fiber washers? Maybe I'm wrong, maybe they changed the design after 2012, just doesn't seem like fiber washers could hold the loads involved. May be worth a call to Nautique Parts. They would know if the fiber washers were used on your year boat.

Thanks. I bought the boat new. I am the only owner. I contacted Nautique Parts and they have the washers and confirmed they are the correct part for my boat. However, maybe that is why they wore away. Thanks again.