Attaching a new cleat to the mast, recommendations?

[Sanman]

OK... Heres another one for the Brain trust... (and I don't think this one is covered on George's most excellent site) I'd like to put a second cleat on the mast, and I see that the one currently on the mast is attached with rivets... I dont have any rivets that long, and I was wondering if I could use self tapping S/S screws to attach the second cleat? My main concern in the screw point inside the mast might fray the wires on the anchor light and my VHF antenna.
If I can find the right length rivets (they would have to be 1/4" x 1 1/2" or 2") I'd probably have to buy a new rivet gun too, I'm not opposed to trying to do this, but I was hoping to be able to just "Git 'er Done"... Any Ideas, comments, suggestions?

 

[Steve Dion]

Most of the time they are attached with screws. Personally I would drill & tap the screws.

You will be using SS screws into an aluminum mast so you will need to Tef-gel or some other product to prevent corrosion between the SS screws & alum mast.

 

[s sauer]

Dissimilar metals

I have used a tap & die for oval head 1/4x20 s.s. machine screws into the aluminum mast. install the hardware loosely, then back out the machine screwa and cut to the exact length with a Dremmel tool and re-install with sealant on the threads. Muchstonger than rivets.

 

[C Jones]

Tapped

I just removed my main sheet halyard winch and cleat from my mast. Both had been tapped and I think both had 1/4" in SS bolts. This was an original Hunter install and no corrosion present at time of removal.