- Joined
- Mar 17, 2009
- Location
- Jackson, TN
Just returned yesterday from a 500 mile, 75-80mph interstate run from Lake Fork, TX too west TN. While putting the boat up I happened to notice something rather disturbing, the main bolt on my "Swing Away Tongue" was BROKEN!!! 
Luckily it broke from the bottom/nut side so the head of the bolt kept the rest of it intact and the removable pin on the otherside of the tongue kept it all together until I got home. Would've been a DISASTER had the bolt fell out. (Two buds followed behind with their rig for most of the way home.)
Since I don't really require use of the Swing Away I think I'm going to replace the bolt and the pin with Grade 8 hardware with enough length to allow a nut plus an extra nylock nut for extra assurance. And you can bet it will all be followed up by an inspection before and after EACH time out!!!
Notice there is no bolt/nut extending below the tongue joint.
When I pulled the bolt out I discovered it was broken off about 1.5-2 threads below the non-thread area.
Luckily it broke from the bottom/nut side so the head of the bolt kept the rest of it intact and the removable pin on the otherside of the tongue kept it all together until I got home. Would've been a DISASTER had the bolt fell out. (Two buds followed behind with their rig for most of the way home.) Since I don't really require use of the Swing Away I think I'm going to replace the bolt and the pin with Grade 8 hardware with enough length to allow a nut plus an extra nylock nut for extra assurance. And you can bet it will all be followed up by an inspection before and after EACH time out!!!
Notice there is no bolt/nut extending below the tongue joint.
When I pulled the bolt out I discovered it was broken off about 1.5-2 threads below the non-thread area.