Mast fasteners

[zoidberg]

I suppose aluminium blind fasteners/pop rivets are the easy answer for attaching winch and clutch mounting plates.
Others are suggesting threaded aluminium rivnuts - with 'barrier cream' of some sort.

But what about the fasteners that go into the rivnuts?

 

[BabaYaga]

I believe for those items the standard fastener would be monel pop rivets (as aluminium may not be strong enough).
However, when I added a clutch plate to my mast I used A4 hex head machine screws tapped into the mast wall, which has not caused any problems.

 

[Tranona]

I am just about to add a 32mm track to the boom and will use C/S M6 set screws tapped into the aluminium wall with plenty of sealer. That is how the existing track is fitted.

 

[alahol2]

When I had to remove the mast gooseneck fitting I had to drill out monel rivets so I used monel for the replacement. I used Duralac on the fitting and on the rivets. Depending on size, I think aluminium may not be strong enough.
For the mast gate adjustment, the thread tapped into the mast wall had stripped, I used a rivnut with a stainless thumb screw. The rivnut was treated to a coat of Duralac before setting it, the thumb screw has no 'barrier cream' as it is screwed/unscrewed a few times every year.

 

[fredrussell]

Not much to add, except to say Tefgel is a bit nicer to use than Duralac, and doesn’t separate like the latter.

 

[Neeves]

Our mast based winches, and clutches (and we have the same clutches on the cross beam (which is an aluminium mast extrusion) are secured to saddles that 'match' the mast profile. The saddles are secured with stainless M8 or M10 bolts, tapped into the mast section (using Durlac - Tefgel was unknown then). I suspect tapping is only applicable if the mast wall is thick enough (and a mast make might provide more information). I added an extra bow roller for a 'second' anchor and simply made a saddle from stainless plate, secured with M10 bolts into the cross beam.

All giving valiant service after over 20 years.

I don't have a picture handy - the saddles are simply metal plate bent down 2 opposite edges so that the centre line of the plate and the two edges each touch the curveture of the mast.

Jonathan