plastic skin fittings.

[viago]

any opinions about these things. i understand there to be problems with brass ones and want to replace the cockpit drains which are a bit below the water line.

i normally murder up skin fittings with a decent pair of stilsons but fear such enthusiasm will just strip the thread on the plastic variety. how would one know when enough is enough?

 

[oldbilbo]

I'm advised that the 'tight-th' needed is just enough to ensure a watertight seal by compression of the sealing compound used.... That's considered 'hand-tight' when first installed, then a day later when the Sika-gunk ( ! ) has cured, another half-turn to provide compression pressure.

Further tightening only increases the load on the through-hull's threads, so that the potential for damage is increased.

Or so I'm told.....