Attaching fair leads to cabin top

[Jcolman]

I have a few halyards that currently are lead back to the cockpit with turning blocks at the mast. I'd like to add a three sheave fair lead to help lead the lines at a better angle to my winches. My question is how should I attach one to the cabin top? My boat has a Fiberglas pan that I really don't want to remove just to get at the underside of the deck to attach a backing plate.

Thoughts?

[Jim Cate]

Jim, one approach is to use a 3 or 4 inch hole saw to make access hole(s) in the headliner in the appropriate spot under the organizer. Then it is easy to fab up a cover out of glass or thin timber and screw it over the hole. Makes an unobtrusive addition to the overhead.

Cheers,

Jim

[robert sailor]

Jims idea is a good one. Remember your drilling into a cored deck and if the bedding breaks down over time(it always does) you will get some water inside your deck core.. Make sure the holes you drill are properly sealed at the edges so any water leaking can not get into the core. I drill an over sized hole through the top layer of glass and then use a bent nail in a drill to remove the deck core, fill it up with epoxy and the next day I drill the new smaller hole in the centre and bed the fitting. If this should leak on day the water will go through the deck but never into it.

[Jcolman]

Thanks guys.

[HappyMdRSailor]

I've also done this...



On a few I was worried about ceiling aesthetics.... A subtle complimentary light fixture over the access hole made it a non issue... Say you have no access to wire??? LED with a battery supply... Now you have a backup saloon light...

[DoubleWhisky]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

I drill an over sized hole through the top layer of glass and then use a bent nail in a drill to remove the deck core, fill it up with epoxy and the next day I drill the new smaller hole in the centre and bed the fitting.

You may want to use some chopped glassfibre with the epoxy to fill the place after removed deck core. Next day use the drill one size bigger than You really need for screws and fill it with pure epoxy. Next day finisz the job just like Robert suggested. This way not only You will protect Your core from delamination, but also You will exclude any possibility of delamination going from the hole.

Best regards

Tomasz

[GordMay]

You can also use plastic hole plugs to fill the hole in the liner.

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