This weekend, I am going to try to install an Easy Jack system for collecting the manisail and a preventer-vang device that I bouight at a Sail Expo. The first one will require drilling some holes in the mast and the boom, and the second one has some blocks that must be installed in the forward deck - and that means drilling holes somewhere and mounting things with screws. I have never done either on a boat. If this was at home, I would just merrily drill the holes and mount everything. Is there anything that I need to know about this on a boat? Anything special - materials, waterproofing, caution, procedures, etc? Is there any reason that I am very hesitant to drill little screw holes in my mast and boom? I would like to complete this project this weekend if possible. Any help would be appreciated.
Michael Soloway
CD31 #60 "Puffin"
Lincoln Harbor, NJ
m@msoloway.com
Drilling holes
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Joel
Re: Drilling holes
I would be very careful about drilling holes in the cored portion of the deck. I'd try to find suitable positions to mount things on the coaming or rails first. If you can't, then you've got to drill through the deck and bed your fixtures with 3M 4200 or 5200. If it's a cored section, Don Casey and most folks agree that properly bedding your fixtures isn't enough. The bedding compound will not last forever and when it lets water into a cored deck section you're in trouble.
The recommended procedure is: It's recommended that you drill a slightly oversized hole. Then put a bent nail into the drill and remove additional balsa core around the hole. Fill the whole hole with epoxy. Then drill the correct size hole through the epoxy plug you've created. No core is exposed this way. It sounds harder than it is.
That said, there has been some controversy about this topic on this board.
Have fun.
Joel
Pokey II
'73 Ty #549
Bayside, NY
bondy_joelNOSPAM@hotmail.com
The recommended procedure is: It's recommended that you drill a slightly oversized hole. Then put a bent nail into the drill and remove additional balsa core around the hole. Fill the whole hole with epoxy. Then drill the correct size hole through the epoxy plug you've created. No core is exposed this way. It sounds harder than it is.
That said, there has been some controversy about this topic on this board.
Have fun.
Joel
Pokey II
'73 Ty #549
Bayside, NY
bondy_joelNOSPAM@hotmail.com
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Anthony P. Jeske
Re: Drilling holes
Michael:
I would strongly suggest you drill and tap your spars to mount your fittings. Sheet metal screws are not appropriate for this application.
Because you are tapping a thin section, you'll want maximum holding, so use the apppropriate number drill, rather than a fractional drill. Almost all the fastening you'll do to spars will be #8 or #10 and possibly 1/4" size fasteners. Therefore you'll only need to buy three taps and three drills for this and future projects.
When you install the fasteners, be sure to isolate the stainless fastener from the aluminum spars with Tef-Gel or a similar anti corrosion compound.
Good Luck,
Tony Jeske
CD-25D #141
Breezy
San Diego
ajeske@ixpres.com
I would strongly suggest you drill and tap your spars to mount your fittings. Sheet metal screws are not appropriate for this application.
Because you are tapping a thin section, you'll want maximum holding, so use the apppropriate number drill, rather than a fractional drill. Almost all the fastening you'll do to spars will be #8 or #10 and possibly 1/4" size fasteners. Therefore you'll only need to buy three taps and three drills for this and future projects.
When you install the fasteners, be sure to isolate the stainless fastener from the aluminum spars with Tef-Gel or a similar anti corrosion compound.
Good Luck,
Tony Jeske
CD-25D #141
Breezy
San Diego
ajeske@ixpres.com