Mounting Winch and Rope Clutchs on Coach Roof

[abbott013]

Help needed mounting winchs and rope clutchs on coach roof of a Elizabethan 30. My coach roof is of a bulsa and grp sandwich construction, what i need to know is can i fix without drilling right through the coach roof, i would much prefer to keep my head lineing free from any fixings.

 

[bigwow]

You can if you want them to rip straight out again. On a sandwich construction you have to support the bolt mounting holes to avoid crushing and I always have a generous backing to both winches and clutched IMHO

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Yup, Agree with bigwow....

On a 30 footer, you'll need not only to bolt through, but also to support the bolt holes with a resin/wood plug of some sort to prevent crushing, and also a backing plate below decks to spread loads....

 

[FullCircle]

Epoxy in some stainless or alloy tubes through the balsa......

 

[fdmarsden]

Re: Mounting Rope Clutches on Coach Roof

Not done winches this way but have with the rope clutches on current 26' boat. (Superseal 26)

Drill 1" or so hole with hole saw, through the outerskin and the balsa, but not inner skin.
Dig out some balsa to form undercut.
Make or obtain a grp solid rod the size of the drilled hole.
Epoxy rod in place.
File flush
Drill and tap the centre of the rod the size of the fastener for the clutch M6??/M8??

Provided the grp rod is solid and a good resin/glass ratio it can be tapped reliably. If you put resin on the fastener it will be extremely difficult to remove; curing resin shrinks.

This only needs to be done for the rear rope clutch hole. self tapper can be used for the front, as the reaction to the rope tension is always down on the forward fastening.

I did this two seasons ago as the coachroof has a grp deckhead lining with no access panel under the rope clutches; there is one under the winches.

 

[abbott013]

Re: Mounting Rope Clutches on Coach Roof

Thanks guys, not what i wanted to hear, but sensable all the same. I think its going to be two stainlees steel plates inside with countersunk machine screws ( should stop any scalping ) each carrying a winch and rope clutch, roded to stop compresion of the roof. Anyone know of a 316 sheet metal supplier in the eastbourne area.

 

[oldsaltoz]

Re: Mounting Rope Clutches on Coach Roof

G'day Bananaman,

[ QUOTE ]
I think its going to be two stainless steel plates inside with countersunk machine screws ( should stop any scalping ) each carrying a winch and rope clutch, roded to stop compression of the roof.

[/ QUOTE ]

Have you considered installing backing plates after removing the underside glass and balsa then coating the top side of the backing plate with micro fibres?

This will give a stronger finish and spread the load better than rods.

The remaining open area can be filled with closed cell balloons to give a smooth finish that will above the level of your lining and invisible.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[abbott013]

Re: Mounting Rope Clutches on Coach Roof

hi,
i really do not want to cut my head lineing, i do understand what you are saying but i like to keep things as original as possible, thanks