Mounting Spreader Lights

[BobHorn]

Looking at some new spreader lights. They mostly seem to come with a single 1/4" mounting bolt. The current ones are attached with a couple of sheet metal screws. For the new ones, do I just drill a 1/4" hole through the spreader? Would that weaken the spreader?


Thanks,
Bob

[Madehn]

Following as I have the same question

[smac999]

just make a bracket, screw into existing screw holes. drill 1/4" hole into bracket.

because you probably need to nut the back of it which you can't do on the spreader. and it's not likely thick enough to tap a single 1/4" bolt into.

[s/v Jedi]

I would drill the bracket with two holes instead of the one in the center. Of course you can drill and tap the aluminum, using shorter machine screws.

I actually love the old spreader lights that take these big glass bulbs like sold by Hella Marine etc. You can now get very nice LED bulbs for them with voltage regulators supporting 12V and 24V and you can even use a PWM dimmer on them.

Not sure if they still sell these armatures but you must be able to find them at the outlet stores etc. Here are those LED bulbs for them: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09BZGYK59

[BobHorn]

I've got the fixtures for those big bulbs but the retaining rings are gone. I contacted Scandvik regarding some of the lights with the stud mount but from the response it was obvious the individual had no clue what a sailboat spreader was.

[Brioche]

Not a big fan of trying to use iron-based screws in thin aluminum, even with protective grease. For a use like this where you do not need extra high strength, why not use rivets, either directly or to mount a bracket? That avoids trying to get a nut inside the spreader, or relying on threads in thin aluminum.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Brioche

Not a big fan of trying to use iron-based screws in thin aluminum, even with protective grease. For a use like this where you do not need extra high strength, why not use rivets, either directly or to mount a bracket? That avoids trying to get a nut inside the spreader, or relying on threads in thin aluminum.

Yes rivnuts are great for this.