Great! this is helpful. I will use this and let you know how it goes. Just got the bails and bolts from RigRite... I have ordered some tackle online using some blocks from a company called spintech.. they were less than 1/3rd the price of the Schaefer or Ronstan ones in Defender. We will see if this turns out to be foolish economy.
I have not drilled the mast before, but I have some reasonably sharp twist bits and cutting oil, and a new heavy duty Milwaukee drill, so I should be OK. Presumably I can seat the bolts in loctite, even if the bail flexes a bit.
Dan
Beautiful..
Moderator: Jim Walsh
pilot hole
when drilling accurate holes in metal do three things:
1) use a punch to locate the hole to prevent drill bit wander
2) drill a pilot hole with a much smaller bit: in aluminum, for final holes up to 7/16, I have been successful with a 1/16in pilot hole
3) drill the final size
Oh, and do the final size with a sharp bit. If you can't tell sharp or sharpen your own, buy a new bit before drilling a hole in an expensive piece of metal; the $5-10 for the new bit will seem cheap compared to cost of repairing a mast section. OTOH this is a pretty simple job so don't be too intimidated by self-declared experts.
1) use a punch to locate the hole to prevent drill bit wander
2) drill a pilot hole with a much smaller bit: in aluminum, for final holes up to 7/16, I have been successful with a 1/16in pilot hole
3) drill the final size
Oh, and do the final size with a sharp bit. If you can't tell sharp or sharpen your own, buy a new bit before drilling a hole in an expensive piece of metal; the $5-10 for the new bit will seem cheap compared to cost of repairing a mast section. OTOH this is a pretty simple job so don't be too intimidated by self-declared experts.