PocketShip.net

Hi Guys:

Been away from building for while but back on it now. Quick basic question for your consideration:

Cockpit Deck Cleats: I'm getting ready to install the 1"x 3/4" cleats to the sides of the hull and transom; these will support the cockpit deck and footwells.
Pages 86/89 in the manual states that the cleats need to be 'epoxied (thickened?) to side of the hull and transom, held in place temporarily with drywall screws driven thru the side of the hull'. Questions:
*Use thickened or unthickened epoxy?
*What size drywall screw? (or maybe there's a better type of screw for this purpose)
*Drive the screw from outside the hull - or from the inside??
*Distance between screws?
Many thanks!
Jimmy V

Hi and welcome back,

My answers:

1. Thickened epoxy (CLC staff have told me that anytime wood is being bonded to wood, use thickened epoxy.)
2. I used 1.25" "green" sheet-rock-type screws which were sold to me as being a bit stronger than normal sheet-rock screws as being intended for outside deck use. (I was concerned that the screws not break off when I extracted them through an epoxied joint the next day so I looked for a stronger screw. None broke, but maybe it was overkill.) I also put each screw through a small ~1" square pad of leftover plywood scrap so the screw tip did not penetrate the stringer.
3. I drove the screws from the outside of the hull, except cleats glued to the transom; in that case I drove the screws from inside to preserve the transom appearance.
4. Every 6 inches.

Good luck,
Mark

Some other tips. I used some basic drywall screws I already had. They were fine threaded and I installed them from the inside. I would us a hand screwdriver, because a power drill can split the cleats with too much torque.

Add some cabosil as a thickener if you have some to the epoxy.

For the beveled edge on the side panels and transom, 15 degrees worked well for me. I setup my table saw to make the cuts.

I am finishing up my cleats now. I have a few pictures on my blog.

Good luck and take your time!

Ron and Mark:

Many thanks. Clear now...I'm on it.

Jimmy V