I use a wonderful piece of hardware called a "barrel bolt".
There are two sizes that are useful on the Rhodes 22, the one with 10-
24 UNC threads and the one with 74-20 UNC threads. Imagine a round
Phillips head machine screw; but instead of an external thread,
imagine a short section of internal threads inside of a smooth
cylinder (the barrel) below the Phillips head. The barrel is sized
such that the OD is a slip fit into the next size larger flat washer
for use as a backing plate. Thus, the 10-24 UNC barrel bolt fits the
nominal 74-inch ID fender washer and the 74-20 UNC barrel bolt fits the
nominal ?-inch ID fender washer.
To thru bolt a piece of hardware into the cabin, drill a inch
diameter hole at the location of each thru bolt. Tape up the hole on
the inside and fill in the hole with epoxy. The epoxy will prevent
water migration into the fiberglass laminate around the thru bolt
holes and prevent any core material from getting water logged or
crushed. When the epoxy has cured, remove the tape, and re-drill the
holes using a clearance drill for the size screws you will be using.
Dry fit the hardware to determine the correct length for the screws
and trim them to fit. Sometimes, with a small piece of hardware, you
will need to trim the OD of the fender washers so they don't overlap
each other. A Dremel Multitool and/or bench grinder is handy for
this although a hand file will get the job done eventually as well.
Using your favorite sealant caulk and stainless steel fender washers
on the inside as backing plates, do your final assembly. You'll be
left with nothing showing on the inside except the fender washers and
the heads of some round head machine screws. Definitely not a head-
banger and as mechanically strong as any thru-bolted hardware
installation.
You might be able to purchase barrel bolts from a well-stocked local
marine supply dealer. If you can't find them locally; then, you can
purchase nickel-plated barrel bolts from:
Beckson Marine, Inc.
165 Holland Ave.
Box 3336
Bridgeport, CT 06605
203-333-1412
They are typically sold in blister packs of 25.
Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
