Being a jackass last fall, I pulled boat out of garage while winterizing it, and left engine hatch up. Hatch caught on garage door opener, and pulled screws right out.
Looking for any proven way to re-attach piston arms. Want to use same holes. Really cannot go any bigger on thread size, cuz the ones in there were fat to begin with. Hatch is 3/4 marine board, with sun pad above. Should I try some type of anchor, or epoxy that works well with wood? Any ideas on such? It was just re-upholstered last year, and I really don't want to have to bring it back already, and put a new board in if I don't have to. Thanks.

You could always get a another piece of lets say 3/4" board or starboard and cut it a little larger than your holes. Mount that using new screws and holes, then mount your ram to the new piece. This will ensure the same location. You would just need to see if the ram has an extra 3/4" of travel to make it close properly.

Buzz out the stripped area with a die grinder, epoxy the correct size stainless nuts in place. Let cure, bolt up, go boating.

I had a similar problem. I drilled out the holes to a 3/4" and epoxied a 3/4" hardwood dowel rod into place. Once it dried and cured I sanded it flush and re-drilled and lagged the mount back into place. No problems since.

Lt.

If you can pull the upholstery loose---you can use T nuts. They must be installed from the opposite side.

I cut a slit in the front of the hatch's upholstery under my headrests, shoved my arm in and slid carriage bolts in. I had to drill a couple of holes in it to make it work correctly so I took a small alum. plate and slid it in first before drilling.