by GreenLake » Sun May 12, 2013 8:19 pm
I've never installed a furler (I have a boat with one on it), but I've added some deck hardware. Here are some quick thoughts:
The DS deck isn't cored (on mine at least). In other words, it's a single layer of fiberglass. If that's the case on yours as well, I don't get the reason for the overdrilling and messing with epoxy bit. (If you do have a sandwich, then, yes, you'd replace the core with something incompressible).
I would also stay away from permanent adhesive. Why cause trouble for anyone (including yourself) who may want to exchange, upgrade or replace one of these fittings some time in the future? I would also leave off the lock washers, and simply use the "nylock" type nuts. As for the washers, the larger the better. For a small cleat, you might even see whether a SS fender washer is wide enough that you could drill two holes for the bolts through it and turn it into a "backing plate".
If you mount something on an otherwise unbroken deck, and if you want that to remain watertight, then perhaps some butyl tape for bedding might be advisable. (Or just some caulk that you let cure a bit before putting full pressure on it, so it's not all squished out). Some people are running such lines through the deck. When adding such a "through-deck" fitting that will have a permanent hole, I see no reason to seal the connection between fitting and deck in any way.
As for holding power, I think your bolts are going to be fine, and there's no need for an adhesive. This is for the furling line, correct? That's not going to be very highly loaded compared to sheets and halyards.
~ green ~ lake ~ ~