Looking at your picture I'd say those are either lag bolts that are too short to go all the way through the bunk or they are hex bolts with the nuts under the carpet. Lag bolts are easier, bolts all the way through are stronger.

I usually counter sink the bunks to keep the bolt from coming into contact with the bottom of the boat. I prefer carriage bolts but I've used hex bolts with a flat washer under the head when I can't find a carriage bolt.

You will be fine. You might get a little splash in the collar around the vent hole if the boat gets rocked a lot but it's not going to get into the rest of the boat.

Those bolts look OEM to me also.
They should be about half as tight as an average lug nut. I can't wait to hear what the problem turns out to be (the bolt and the noise).

You posted it a while ago.

You guys had to bring up steering! I just finished working on my inverter yesterday and sat down in the cockpit. For some reason I was fiddling with the wheel and something didn't feel right. I've eliminated the engine, rudders, and steering linkage so it's something in the rack and pinion or the ca...

If by "older" they mean that boat in the foreground, I'd say it has more to do with obvious lack of maintenance than age.

Have you been able to inspect the entire timing belt? Nothing frayed; no teeth missing? Any chance the noise is coming from the tensioner? Does it have play or wobble if you try to move it (when the engine is off!)? There are a limited number of things that move or are close to things that move on t...

Welcome aboard! On average, I'd estimate that with a 200W panel where you live you have between 50Ah and 70Ah of charging capacity in the solar cells. It's going to come down to what is turned on and for how long. I've seen older laptops that could easily use 70Ah to stay charged and newer ones that...

Did you find what was making the noise?

That's not the flywheel.

Yes, the timing belt is the big one with teeth that goes under the flywheel and around the cam sprocket at the rear of the engine. An interference engine means that the piston and the valves can "interfere" with one another if they are not timed properly. The timing belt is turned by the c...

Before you do anything, look at the timing belt. Make sure it's not starting to fray and slap something under the flywheel. I don't think that Honda has a specified replacement interval but they do recommend regular inspection. Remember: this is an interference engine. If the belt breaks the valves ...

I've left the boat unplugged from shorepower for three days now, with the fridge running and the solar panel up but shaded by the mast. I suppose there are a couple of little loads, like the bilge pump lights and USB lights and the electronics monitoring things, but they can't add up to much. After...

That makes sense now. Thanks!