gunnel mount outriggers project

[parmentj]

Just picked up the lee gunnel mounts and will be installing them on my 209 Grady this spring. Looking for some advice from anyone who has done this project; the best way to drill the holes in the gunnel, what type of backing plates to use, best sealant to use, and any other general dos and don'ts. I feel like this is a great project for many of us with smaller boats who chase inshore bluefin. Looking forward to this project and will be taking lots of pictures in the process...
Jackson

[parmentj]

Results...

[Balkster]

Results...

What good is the backup block...... if your mounting bolts are not going threw the block. It serves no function Your mounting block was just a waste of time in this case.

[g_max_2003@hotmail.com]

great job but i would recoomend putting a stainless steel backing plate and using some big washers. just my opinion

[sushi42]

great job but i would recoomend putting a stainless steel backing plate and using some big washers. just my opinion

Have you done this project before? And this is not sarcastic, I'm just asking. Because I was the guy cutting the backing blocks and pre-drilling pilot holes and such. I know that I wasn't 100% thrilled with the fact that two of the screws didn't catch the entire block but after really scrutinizing the job as a whole I'm very satisfied as is PartmentJ. There isn't room for "large" washers around the thru-gunnel portion of the mount-base. The only other option I had is to use thru-bolts with small washers and locking nuts. You'll also note the fact that the thru-gunnel portion of the mount-base is on a 45 degree angle which means every bore-hole that needs to be cut, needs to be cut on that angle. The outside dia. of the chrome piece underneath was 1-1/2", the hole I drilled was a 2" bore-hole. In hindsight I would probably see if I could work a smaller dia. hole on the backing plate or block in this case. It's all trial and error here boys and we just wanted to put this up there for anybody else looking to do this or something similar on their own.
Ed

[g_max_2003@hotmail.com]

Have you done this project before? And this is not sarcastic, I'm just asking. Because I was the guy cutting the backing blocks and pre-drilling pilot holes and such. I know that I wasn't 100% thrilled with the fact that two of the screws didn't catch the entire block but after really scrutinizing the job as a whole I'm very satisfied as is PartmentJ. There isn't room for "large" washers around the thru-gunnel portion of the mount-base. The only other option I had is to use thru-bolts with small washers and locking nuts. You'll also note the fact that the thru-gunnel portion of the mount-base is on a 45 degree angle which means every bore-hole that needs to be cut, needs to be cut on that angle. The outside dia. of the chrome piece underneath was 1-1/2", the hole I drilled was a 2" bore-hole. In hindsight I would probably see if I could work a smaller dia. hole on the backing plate or block in this case. It's all trial and error here boys and we just wanted to put this up there for anybody else looking to do this or something similar on their own.
Ed

yes i have done this before but on a different boat so the space under the gunnel must not be the same so like i said just my opinion and it is what i did. there are many different ways of doing job. good luck with the rest of the project
greg

[Bligh]

If a non profesional{ I.E.not being paid money to work on boat}Post an improvement. We ought to be nice to him. especially if you, the Voyuer deems it not good enough?or you would have done it this way remark? Does it need to be said? yes, but tactfully. Now if a professional post something then the gloves come off. Good job on the gunnel rigger mounting guys. Years ago I sold a boat to a guy that was going to use the boat to seriously catch! giant tuna. I installed new teak gunels and put the rodholders in and they were not cheap. They gave me my rodholders back when I went to visit them at their dock after a number of successful Blue Fin trips.They said, heres your baby rodholders with humor? Well the whole story is they had multiple giants on on 130 bent butts. Got all the fish but screws were flying from the presure of the unatended rods???They never came out of the holders and the holders never came out of the gunnels but it was scary they said! We all learn from mistakes and Who knew?

[crmarlinfisher]

it looks very nice

[parmentj]

Appreciate any suggestions boys... Its a learning process and my main concern was drilling the holes on the correct angle, and that was accomplished with ease. If anyone has some first hand experience with a similar type job and has some constructive criticism as to how to improve these things I am all ears. The process is never complete, I want to make these things as sturdy as possible, I am all ears...

[Goodnyou]

Cut another hole, inch and a half or inch and 5/8 in another peice of mahogony at the same angle. Slide this over the pipe on top of the existing peice. Remove 1 front screw, pre drill all the way through and bolt with a 4 inch bolt with a washer. Repeat for all 3 other holes.