I want to add a line clutch and winch to the port side cabin roof of my 1990 Hunter T30, so I can add a second reef and a spinnaker halyard. The problem is, there is no access through the roof liner to add the line clutch. There is an access panel for adding a winch, and one further forward for the line organizer, but there is not nearly enough space to squeeze and hand through the panal into the space between the roof and liner to place washers and nuts or a backing plate for a line clutch. They can't normally be held with just wood style strews, can they? Should I just cut through the liner with a Dremel or something, and then add another access panel? Anybody done this to a smaller mid-sized Hunter?
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Adding hardware to cabin top
Dean, I just (this week) went through the exercise of adding line handling hardware (Quad sheet stopper and winch) to the cabin top of my 1992 Hunter 33.5. I studied the hell out of the access ports in the headliner, none of which seemed to afford access to the necessary locations. In desperation, i called the Hunte factory. Seems like the designer (at least for my boat, maybe yours as well) had 1/4" aluminum plates glassed into the deck where hardware is to be located. To install my sheet stopper and line organizer, all I had to do was drill holes through the aluminum (no access from below required) and tap the holes for 1/4-20 stainless bolts. Almost as easy as pie. Be sure to be careful when drilling to avoid going through the headliner, and be sure to check with the factory to make certain that your model has the aluminum plates. I was told to definitely NOT rely on wood screws to hold the hardware. Good luck.
Dean, I just (this week) went through the exercise of adding line handling hardware (Quad sheet stopper and winch) to the cabin top of my 1992 Hunter 33.5. I studied the hell out of the access ports in the headliner, none of which seemed to afford access to the necessary locations. In desperation, i called the Hunte factory. Seems like the designer (at least for my boat, maybe yours as well) had 1/4" aluminum plates glassed into the deck where hardware is to be located. To install my sheet stopper and line organizer, all I had to do was drill holes through the aluminum (no access from below required) and tap the holes for 1/4-20 stainless bolts. Almost as easy as pie. Be sure to be careful when drilling to avoid going through the headliner, and be sure to check with the factory to make certain that your model has the aluminum plates. I was told to definitely NOT rely on wood screws to hold the hardware. Good luck.
Aluminum Cutting Fluid
For drilling and especially tapping into aluminum I'd recommend aluminum cutting fluid otherwise the tap will gall up, get dull quickly, then brake. I got mine at the hardware store on Stone Way in Seattle, near the bottom of the hill on the east side. It's called A-9 by: Relton Corporation 317 Rolyn Place, Arcadia, CA 91007 (800) 423-1505. At their web site select thread cutting oil. I'm not pushing their product and have no association with the firm, but small hardware stores don't carry it. If there's no access above the headliner then probably don't want to flood the drill/tap bits because you don't know where all the liquid will go.
For drilling and especially tapping into aluminum I'd recommend aluminum cutting fluid otherwise the tap will gall up, get dull quickly, then brake. I got mine at the hardware store on Stone Way in Seattle, near the bottom of the hill on the east side. It's called A-9 by: Relton Corporation 317 Rolyn Place, Arcadia, CA 91007 (800) 423-1505. At their web site select thread cutting oil. I'm not pushing their product and have no association with the firm, but small hardware stores don't carry it. If there's no access above the headliner then probably don't want to flood the drill/tap bits because you don't know where all the liquid will go.
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