Overfilled bow ballast, need help.

Long story short, my integrated bow sack was over-filled. We caught the problem before any real damage was done... but still not quite early enough. It put enough pressure in my bow compartments to lift the seat base from the floor in just a couple spots, and the screw holes in the floor are stripped.

How would you fix the stripped holes?

My gut instinct says to fill the holes with epoxy, and after letting it dry, re-install the screws... but I figure I'd ask the experts before trying anything myself. Thanks in advance.

IS the sac not vented??? This will prevent this from happening again.

Fill the holes with Marine-Tex. When dry, drill a pilot hole and reinstall screws. It can be tinted to match the gelcoat also.

I would use the epoxy and also try to find a bigger screw. Diameter not length. That way it will be grabbing onto some virgin wood or plastic whichever is on the floor of your boat

Thanks guys. I found some epoxy gel that I think should do the trick. There is no gel coat damage... so it's just a matter of filling the hole.

The sack is usually vented, was just giving the quick version of the story above...


Here's the full story:
- Usually my integrated bow sack is hooked up with the fill/drain through the bottom fitting, and the overflow through the top.
- A couple weeks ago, I sold my old bow sack because a fitting was damaged and sent the attachments with it, and replaced it.
- When I ordered my new sack, the wrong quick-release attachments were sent. We wanted to fill it anyway, and I did have one fitting laying around -- so I used it on the fill/drain valve... and plugged the overflow valve.
- I watched it closely as it filled to be sure it didn't overfill... (I knew what would happen).
- But... I didn;t tell my friends that it was jerry-rigged... and not to adjust the ballast (I guess I didn't think I needed to say that).
- A friend jumped in the drivers seat and decided to top it off.

We heard a couple pops, and I knew right away what it was... I about lost it... but there really is no damage... just a few stripped screws. I was lucky.

Thanks again for the help, wish me luck.

Cal, what year is your 22v? I've heard that the ballast systems on <'09 Supra's aren't vented, did you do the venting yourself? I have an '05 24v and get air pockets that I'd like to eliminate.

Marine Tex has filler material in it and will work better than regular epoxy.

Mine is a 2007 22V -- the bow ballast is vented. As far as I know, they are all vented... but the vent T's off the fill-line, so you don't hook up a vent at the bag, just the fill/vent (top) and drain (bottom) lines... if that makes sense.

The issue I had was from an aftermarket Fly High Integrated Bow Sack that I installed beneath the front seats, with a single Jabsco ballast puppy to fill/drain.