[Public-List] Main Sail Track Fasetening

[Michael Taylor]

After painting the mast I am putting the main sail track back onto the mast.  I see that some have tapped each of the existing holes to replace the rivets with machine screws.    The track is stainless 7/8" with 3/16th holes drilled.  The next drill size up will just clean out the existing mast holes and leave sufficient room to thread either 1/4 inch or 6mm machine screws.

Having got a sample of machine screws with various heads it seems that the heads are too big for the existing sail track (they don't seat at the base of the track).  I assume that the only way to use machine screws is to either change the sail track or drill new holes which I'm not prepared to do.

If I can't use machine screws it will be back to aluminum rivets with a steel mandrel as I've found strainless very difficult to remove - and install.

Have I missed something with machine screw fitting here?

thanks

Mick 

#231




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