The first diagram shows a bolt going through the lip and coming out on the other side. I guess I could try to put a washer and nut on it there, but the lip isn't a very flat surface and it seems like a bad idea. Has anyone ever done it that way? The second diagram just looks like a screw stuck in the side of the wall with no support, which also seems like a very bad idea. I would like to avoid installing another inspection port, and I'm not even sure where I could put one in the back of the cockpit. I couldn't put it inside the storage compartment because the saw won't fit in there. Any suggestions? I'm sure plenty of people have done this before, but I can't think of a way to make it work.
Hence, four bolts to spread the load. Nuts on the ends of the bolts.
You do have to drill the holes for the eyestraps at just the right location/height so that you can (freely) screw the nuts onto the bolts. There isn't a great deal of space there.
You're going to need something behind the bolt to spread out the load like a nut and fender washer which means a inspection hole off to the side of the cockpit. Been thinking about rivet-nuts as a fast and easy way to secure a strap. Check this out. . .
http://www.acerivet.com/klik_poly_nuts.html
Say's it is good for high loads on thin fiberglass. That would give you a clean install with no inspection port. If you were not sure it was strong enought you could install the inspection port, put in some fiberglass reinforcement and the rivet-nut would still give you a much better install than a bolt or pop-rivit. The fiberglass would be less likely to crack out over time.
Wait, how do you get the nuts on the bolts? The nuts would have to be inside of the hull, right? How do you do that without an inspection port?
I used some (from a different mfg) for the coaming, worked perfectly, although this company (Acerivet.com) only offers "ribbed" ones in a steel/zinc. I believe that the "ribbed' ones would be that absolute correct one, for fiberglass, but you would want them in stainless, or maybe.... aluminum, not too sure if aluminum would be strong enough at the threads?
How about to install the back connection on a pre-71 boat?... that is, one without the storage compartment. I figure I pretty much have to install a port in the back somewhere.
I will probably put an inspection port in the back wall of the cockpit (I think Nightsailor recommended that a while back), and then another inspection port up on the deck between the daggerboard slot and the coaming. I need them to dry it out and inspect things anyway, and it'll make it easier to install a hiking strap if I plan ahead.
I already have the new rudder mount, so I don't need one too far back.
tag