TO SLOT OR NOT?

Q:

Are Phillips-head screws better than slotted-head screws for use aboard a boat? Steve Gallagher Lewes, Delaware

A:

Not better and not worse, but different. Personally, for prominent fittings using big fasteners such as deck cleats, I like the look of slotted screws all clocked—tightened so that they line up. Also, for strainers, bow thrusters and any other underwater fittings where antifouling paint is liable to clog the head, I find it easier to clean out a slot—compared to a Phillips head or square drive—when replacement or repair becomes necessary. That said, for repairs and accessory add-ons, I would say matching what’s already on the boat is the best course of action, aesthetically if nothing else, most of the time.