Hi Fran, A few more thoughts: 1. I bought my bow pulpit from Bob Eeg, and it came complete with backing plates - but without bolts and nuts, which I obtained at my local hardware store that has a great selection of stainless bolts. 2. Check the plates of the bow pulpit and the backing plates to make certain that all the holes are 120 degrees apart, or else you wind up with an assembly requiring a back up plate that exactly matches the holes in the feet of the base. I didn't check when I drilled my holes, and then had to do a bit of filing in the deck holes to get the bolts to fit properly and mate with the backing plates. Connie