Hi Rolly.
As the eye-bolt is extremely critical when launching, recovering and towing I replaced mine with a larger one to be on the safe side. There is a fair amount of 'meat' in the fibreglass on the stem so I didn't think it was necessary to add a backing plate as I had done on a previous boat.
I am a bit surprised the nut is below the 'inner moulding' on your boat as it wasn't on mine, although it can't be very far below the plywood floor (which rests on foam), so it would be a relatively easy job to dig a small hole and find it. A bit messy but not risky!
Good luck!
As the eye-bolt is extremely critical when launching, recovering and towing I replaced mine with a larger one to be on the safe side. There is a fair amount of 'meat' in the fibreglass on the stem so I didn't think it was necessary to add a backing plate as I had done on a previous boat.
I am a bit surprised the nut is below the 'inner moulding' on your boat as it wasn't on mine, although it can't be very far below the plywood floor (which rests on foam), so it would be a relatively easy job to dig a small hole and find it. A bit messy but not risky!
Good luck!