Author Topic: Gunwale thickness  (Read 7188 times)

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Offline mtbinscotland

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Gunwale thickness
« on: May 05, 2016, 04:27:47 AM »
Before I start drilling through my deck to install a tower, what thickness is the fiberglass on gunwale on my 91 Legend?
Thanks!

Offline RonT

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Re: Gunwale thickness
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2016, 09:31:09 AM »
All depends on where you plan on drilling, send pics with masking tape on the boat to show me where you plan on drilling & I can direct you from there

Offline mtbinscotland

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Re: Gunwale thickness
« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2016, 02:25:58 PM »
Thanks Ron.  I'll be at the boat in Sunday so will send photos then.  It's a monster MT2 tower so my initial thought is that front brackets will likely be about 4" ahead of cleats and rear bracket about 60" back from the fronts.  I prefer to bolt them down on flat gunwale as opposed to side but I'll take your recommendations, as always.
Thanks again and photos to follow...
Cheers

Offline mtbinscotland

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Re: Gunwale thickness
« Reply #3 on: May 08, 2016, 11:01:27 AM »
Ron, hope these are clear enough as the desired positions for the tower brackets.  Spec on tower advice is to make sure fibre glass below gelcoat is 3/8" thick.  Can you confirm thickness at masking tape locations?  Will I need to add plywood to the underside?
Thanks

Offline RonT

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Re: Gunwale thickness
« Reply #4 on: May 08, 2016, 11:29:07 AM »
Both areas will be 3/16" to 1/4" thick, well below the 3/8" minimum. In my shop the forward mounts would get reinforcing with 3/16" flat aluminum, 4" x 10" simply bedded in bondo (polyester body filler) to the underside. I pre-drill the plate place it up under the deck and use a simple bolt & nut to draw them together while the filler cures. The  aft mounts needs the same treatment however shaping the aluminum into the radius is usually done with a ball peen hammer and beat into shape until it fits well then bed with bondo like the front. The tricky part is getting the aft tower base mount to fit the outside curve of the deck, this is very important, I have made custom spacers from starboard (marine plastic) to fit the deck. Remember the aft legs are pressing down, so the if I have a 2" diameter base, I will make a 3-4" diameter plastic interface to spread the load. The forward mounts are trying to pull upwards & out.   

Offline mtbinscotland

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Re: Gunwale thickness
« Reply #5 on: May 08, 2016, 12:00:14 PM »
So much for an easy install! :-)
Thanks for the advice.

Offline mtbinscotland

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Re: Gunwale thickness
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2016, 09:21:44 AM »
Hi Ron, well I'm heading to the boat on Sunday to do the install.  Quick question (if you get this on time)...  If i remove the front cleats and use the concave area on the deck where the cleats are currently located as the spot for my front tower mounts, will the deck be the required 3/8 there?
Thanks.  I'll send photos when it is installed...
Cheers

Offline mtbinscotland

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Re: Gunwale thickness
« Reply #7 on: May 22, 2016, 01:50:38 PM »
Install complete!  Aluminum plates and bondo worked. a treat!1. Thanks again Ron..o

Offline lcgordon

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Re: Gunwale thickness
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2016, 08:43:00 AM »
boat looks good love the teal.