My wife is a sweet-heart, she got me two brand new Todd's for Christmas for up on the bridge. But I'm the poor bastar* that has to install them! Who out there among you has performed this task? I'm wondering if I have to drop the headliner or not. Also, have not purchased the pedestals yet. Regards, watjam
If you're going into glass I'd install a backing plate which would in fact involve removing the headliner. Here's an article on it: http://www.captainariel.com/pdf/boatmanship/boatmanship_200712_take_your_sit.pdf
You could get aWay with toggle bolts but a backing plate would be best, depends on how thick the deck is also if the deck is balsa cored you should drill some core out around the holes and fill with epoxy, don't rely on sealant or you ll be replacing some core in a few years
Good artical NYCAP. I don't know why messing w/ the headliner scares me so much - but it does. One good thing about dropping the liner is, it enables me to get some sound proofing material up there.
Growing up I was always afraid to pull things apart unless I knew for sure how to put it back together. Still am to a point. Meanwhile my brother would pull anything apart and he never could put anything back together. More stuff to blame our parents for. Pull the liner. It's not a big deal to put back.
Pedestal seats Did it! Only took me a year to work up the courage. Upon further inspection, the head-liner was getting rather worn and no longer could be cleaned respectably. I ended up pulling it all down and re-doing the whole thing. It looks very nice. The Todd's are a nice addition and free up some space up there. I used a plywood backer bedded with epoxy filler. Took advantage of the moment to run some wires for a chart light above the helm, and some speaker wires to the rear of the sedan top.
I would've used a 1/4" Aluminum plate with 5200 on it as a backing plate. Plywood will work for a little while, but it's quite likely the washers and nuts will compress it and work their way through it.
While you had the chance, should have installed a few "channels" to each corner of the saloon for any future wiring or other needs. Something I often do in the ceilings of rooms where my clients have a TV/movie room or games room but they can't decide at the time when we are completing the project.