Drilling and tapping into aluminium

[ditchcrawler]

I use self tappers for my Selden mast gate. It is difficult to get the screw into the hole as the slot in the insert is very narrow. I put mine in with a bit of Blue Tack so when I unscrew them they stay in the hole of the insert. Make sure you have some spare screws/bolts as you will loose some down the mast.
You also need to hold up the plastic channel insert at the same time as inserting the mast gate. It is often a 2 man job.

 

[Daydream believer]

I use self tappers for my Selden mast gate. It is difficult to get the screw into the hole as the slot in the insert is very narrow. I put mine in with a bit of Blue Tack so when I unscrew them they stay in the hole of the insert. Make sure you have some spare screws/bolts as you will loose some down the mast.
You also need to hold up the plastic channel insert at the same time as inserting the mast gate. It is often a 2 man job.

But did the OP not state that the screws are also tapped into the gate fitting first?
If so the self tappers are out. Are they not?

 

[bigwow]

But did the OP not state that the screws are also tapped into the gate fitting first?
If so the self tappers are out. Are they not?

They are if the OP has internal halyards

 

[guyd]

Use paraffin as a lubricant, weirdly, for cutting ally.