I hit a wake pretty good today and ripped the 2 screws at the closest side of the hot foot slide bracket, right out of the floor. Made for an interesting ride back to the ramp and even more interesting trying to load it on the trailer. I probably should have checked them at least once a season to make sure they were still snug. 4 new screws and she's good as new.

Thanks for bringing that up. That’s one of those things that I know I have never checked but should have. I’ll put it on the list now though. Losing throttle control could range anywhere from inconvenient to catastrophic depending on the situation. 

 

Do you think they just backed out or did you pull them out with the impact of the wake? 

Don't know for sure but they were ripped out and when I tried to screw them in on the water, they wouldn't bite. I haven't checked them in 6 years since the hotfoot was installed. I replaced all 4 screws when I got home. The originals were 3/4", I think #12. I went to a 1" #14. Figured when all was said and done, the 3/4" screws probably only had 1/2" or less bite in them. I have an issue with the screws for the ball mount on bow graph loosing up a couple times a season. I screw them down tight, but rough water loosens them up.

After a couple of runs in rough water or an extended time on the water like the 2 weeks I will be in Wisconsin, part of my routine is to check every screw I can get to.  Don’t forget that trailering loosens a lot of things up as well.  Rub rail screws are a seasonal check.  

Remember the screws should be stainless steel and self taping or wood screws the 1st 5 threads or about 1/4" are tapered. I got into the habit of putting 3M 1200 sealant on my boat screws, acts like locking compound plus seals the holes, doesn't harden to the point you can't retighten. 

Good reminder to check screws.

Tom