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How to drill and mount in compartments
Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2023 11:22 am
by bkuhn
I have a battery charger (which I'd like to mount in the compartment just aft of the kitchen area on my 1999 Macgregor 26X. But I'm trying to figure out how do people mount anything in these areas? It seems like what I'd drill into here is the fiberglass that is the hull. If I put a screw in here I suspect it would go a half an inch in and then I'd be seeing that screw penetrating right through the outside of the boat.
Can anyone tell me on these Macgregors what tricks you have to mount things without putting a screw right through to the outside? I seem to have the same problem if I want to mount anything on the interior exposed areas of the boat too (assuming they are on outside walls).
Would appreciate any advice on this. Seems like there is lots of internal compartment space but mounting electronics or other accessories seems very difficult. I've included a few pics that might clarify my current dilemma.
Thanks all!
Brad
Re: How to drill and mount in compartments
Posted: Sat Jul 08, 2023 12:16 pm
by Jimmyt
I glued wood blocks to the hull then mounted items to the wood blocks.
viewtopic.php?p=353477#p353477
It’s been long enough to say the adhesive works well.
Epoxy works as well. You could glass in a block, too.
Re: How to drill and mount in compartments
Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2023 6:08 am
by Russ
My battery charger is mounted on an inside wall (where your red perko battery switch is).
I have done as Jimmy has and glued a wood block to the hull for mounting items. For a washdown pump, I used silicone caulk for the wood block. Easy to glop a ton of the stuff to the block and then smush it against the hull wall. Removeable if I wish and offers slight vibration insulation.
Re: How to drill and mount in compartments
Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2023 8:45 am
by Be Free
I've mounted battery chargers by bolting them directly through the compartment walls with fender washers to spread the load. I've also attached components by glassing in a block of wood or fastening a small block to the compartment wall with JB Weld (epoxy). If you get the mix right and keep it pressed tight the epoxy works great. If you mess up the mix or the pressure not so much.
Re: How to drill and mount in compartments
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2023 8:31 am
by Gotro
Re: How to drill and mount in compartments
Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2023 8:43 am
by Gotro
Don’t know your handyman skills but I made this cabinet over this past winter/ spring. 4 years temporarily housing wires and compartments down there , just not enough room to service and add to , and my x leaks water in that side bilge as well, that’s another problem I have . Lots of mods from this site inspired me . Working great now
Re: How to drill and mount in compartments
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2024 5:54 pm
by Idiotfool
bkuhn wrote: ↑Sat Jul 08, 2023 11:22 am
I have a battery charger (which I'd like to mount in the compartment just aft of the kitchen area on my 1999 Macgregor 26X. But I'm trying to figure out how do people mount anything in these areas? It seems like what I'd drill into here is the fiberglass that is the hull. If I put a screw in here I suspect it would go a half an inch in and then I'd be seeing that screw penetrating right through the outside of the boat.
Can anyone tell me on these Macgregors what tricks you have to mount things without putting a screw right through to the outside? I seem to have the same problem if I want to mount anything on the interior exposed areas of the boat too (assuming they are on outside walls).
Would appreciate any advice on this. Seems like there is lots of internal compartment space but mounting electronics or other accessories seems very difficult. I've included a few pics that might clarify my current dilemma.
Thanks all!
Brad
My battery tender required that I install it several feet away from the battery to ensure off-gassing did not do harm to the charger. As for mounting, I have a 26M with the sliding galley. I used two brackets and a wooden board to suspend my tender under the port settee.
Even though I'll probably keep my boat until I die, for some reason, I always try to make my mods reversible. If I had a 26X, I would likely use tension rods and pipe clamps to hold a board in place in a similar way to my suspended bracket assembly.
