DIY T-slot bolts

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techfowl

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Just wanted to pass along a bolt that I found that can be modified to fit the T-rails on your boat to add accessories. I found these T-Slot bolts on-line from a company called Powertec, they are ¼”-20 bolts with an oval flange on one end like a toilet flange bolt. I had to grind the flange width down to fit in the rail of my Lowe Roughneck, I also ground 45 degree flats on opposite ends to provide a flatter surface to catch in the slot once they rotate as I start tightening. In the first pic, the bolt on the right is how they come, bolt on the left has been ground. The flange on these are 13/16” long x 17/32” wide, so you can grind to fit the slot on your rails. These came in a pack of 20 for <$15 which is much less than if you purchase factory T-rail bolts, I’ve seen them for as much as $5 each!



https://www.amazon.com/POWERTEC-4-Inch-20-2-Inch-QTB1005-T-Slot/dp/B07GS3YS9R?th=1



Just thought I’d pass this info along for those interested, I know a lot of guys use toilet bolts and/or carriage bolts and grind them down, or just drill a hole at one end of the track but these seem like they may work out better.



Let me know if you have any questions.
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dog duck gun

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On mine I just drilled one end of the T rail so i could fit a regular stainless 1/4" carriage bolt into the T rails. Works like a champ and bolts are available at most hardware locations
 

darkvibe

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Why would they zinc plate those bolts if they're stainless?
 

techfowl

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darkvibe

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I made my own t bolts by taking 1/4-20 carriage bolts and grinding the round head into a T on the bench grinder.
 

Bullet21XD

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I ordered some to try. I have 1/4-20 carriage bolts on my boat now. The actual slot is wide, and the bolts will just spin. I can't get them as tight as i'd like. I'm hoping these are wide enough to catch the inside of the slot to tighten well. We'll see!

And, they probably are just zinc coated.
 

JacksonDavila

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Although it's been a while, I appreciate you sharing your clever solution. Powertec seems to have the right kind of bolts with an oval flange that can be modified to fit T-rails on boats. Grinding down the flange width and adding 45-degree flats for a better fit shows some real ingenuity. Plus, the cost savings compared to factory T-rail bolts are a definite win. If anyone's interested, they can check out Powertec's offerings on Amazon. They have a wide selection that could come in handy.
 

Iammichael6499

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On mine I just drilled one end of the T rail so i could fit a regular stainless 1/4" carriage bolt into the T rails. Works like a champ and bolts are available at most hardware locations
That was my solution as well. I forget how many holes I needed but I think it was only around 4 to access 100% of the rail slot around my Roughneck.
 
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