Skin fittings

[muchy_]

Hi all, I want to fit a skin fitting to my boat next time she comes out but I'm not to sure of the best way to do this. I've looked at the other skin fittings and they have had wooden blocks glassed onto the inside of the hull to reinforce the skin fitting. The boat is a Seamaster 30 and the thickness of the hull is about 3/4 of an inch. The fitting will be for a toilet outlet.
Should skin fittings have this reinforcement or can I just drill a hole through the hull and bolt the fitting in with some sealant?
I'm not sure I would trust my glassing expertise if a block is needed but I would be able to do it if it's just bolted through a hole.
Advice please...

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[Dave_Snelson]

My advice would be to seek the professional advice of a boat builder / repairer, or better still, let them do this bit and you do the rest.

Drilling holes in boats is never a good idea unless you are brilliant at it.

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[longjohnsilver]

Guess a lot depends on whether the place you want to put the skin fitting is curved or not. If not Can't see any problem with that thickness of hull, unless of course you need padding to act as a spacer.

Why not have a backing pad already made up, should make the job really easy.

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[oldsaltoz]

G'day Michael,

After drilling you will have to seal the exposed fibreglass, or risk water entering the laminate.

This subject has been well covered and a search will turn up loads of information.

It sounds like yours is one of the older boats if the hull thickness is any guide; I have installed a number of thru hulls for clients and friends, most are set into glass, have never had a problem, ever.

The timber pad so a simple method to provide a flat surface to mate with the valve base plate, and to provide a little give. However this is prone to rot and other problems, that's why I have only ever used glass and epoxy resins.

I hope this helps.

Good luck with the project, and the search, and.......

Avagoodweekend.




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