Tiller pilot problem

[michael_w]

My boat, in common with thousands, has the "ink well" type tiller pilot mount.

Has anyone found a satisfactory way of attaching this Micky Mouse fitting to the cockpit seats. I've tried: Sillicone, Sikaflex, Araldite, SP epoxy with micro fibres, even the normally unbeatable 3m's 5200 caulk has failed.

 

[kds]

"Has anyone found a satisfactory way of attaching this Micky Mouse fitting to the cockpit seats."

I am suprised. I made up a sandwich of 2 x 9mm. ply, drilled accurately and epoxied the cylinder in, then bolted it to cockpit coaming. Worked well on my last 2 boats. It isn't micky mouse at all.
Ken

 

[ashanta]

As mentioned by previous respondant, easy fitting. In my case the block is inside the boat under the cockpit seat. The drilled down from outside through the cockpit seat into the block (glued into place with epoxy) to the correct depth. The fitting is then placed in the hole with epoxy glue.
I have done this on three different boats and have had no problem whatsover.

 

[michael_w]

To expand further, my current boat has teak covered cockpit seats, in turn these seats are balsa cored. The "ink well" doesn't even reach through the inner skin.

I cannot find any adhesive that can cope with the shear loading for any length of time. Or, am I the only person who expects the unit to function in anything other than a flat calm.

FWIW both Raymarine and Navico use the same crummy arrangement.

 

[kds]

"use the same crummy arrangement. "

Not crummy at all. Sounds like the problem is your balsa core. The cylinder has to take large forces and needs to be a good fit for its full depth in solid wood, ply or GRP.
Ken

 

[cliff]

If you don't like the inkwell type fitting go out and buy a coaming mount and an extension of the correct size/length and mount the ram on the side of the coaming rather than in the seat or fit the inkwell type properly in your foam-cored seats i.e use an Allen/Allan key or the like to remove the foam around the hole as far back as you can (and through to the second skin). Clean out the void and fill with epoxy filler then press the fitting into the hole and into the epoxy plug.
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[Spyro]

As you say, thousands have it.....