Tower install on a Mastercraft

AC505 · Newbie Joined: 14 Feb 2003 Posts: 30

I'm in the process of beefing up the deck to handle the tower that I have just installed. Now the decks on older mastercrafts are rather thin, mine measured betweek 6mm at thinnest and 9mm are the thickest point. Now sods law always determines the mounting points to be at the thinest point which in my case is exactly what happened.

For the front mounts I have cut some 4mm aluminium plate and propose to use a polyeurethane adhesive to bond it, the problem I have is that the inside of the deck has a number of curves that will be impossible to profile on the aluminium, so my question is will it be strong enough to have the large aluminium plate on the underside of the deck and yet not making complete intimate contact with the deck?

I'd be keen to hear from people whio have had to strengthen thinner hulls and to fing out how it's been done.....

Xbrdr1 · Outlaw Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 161

I put an AtlanticTower on a 89 MC PS190. I used 3/4 oak for a 'backing' plate. About a 12 inch by 12 inch piece epoxied up underneath where the front feet of the tower hit. This oak was 'sandwhiched' between by the stock metal backing plate. You're right...the oak did not sit entirely flush...but it did the job. No probs...going on it's 3rd year. Good Luck.

89comp · Posted: Jun 10, 2003 6:32 am Post subject:

I just put a monster tower on my 89 Comp and I used a piece of scrap lumber I got at a local hardware shop for $1. I made the piece of wood bigger than the metal backing plate so the "tearout" is much larger.

dba4life · Outlaw Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 129

89Comp - Please email me at dba4life@aol.com regarding your monster tower. I would like detail/picts.

Thanks

6more · Newbie Joined: 08 May 2003 Posts: 26 City: Upstate, SC

I would think that a smaller plate that could contact 100% of the surface would be better than a large plate that only touched in some areas.

If you large plate only touches in 80% of the area, a plate that is 20% smaller that touched everywhere would be better. It would provide even weight distribution amount the space. If you plate isn't touching everywhere, some areas are going to be stressed more than others.

89comp · Posted: Jun 10, 2003 7:01 am Post subject:

6more-
You're right about the bigger plate. I had to eyeball the size, then put it in the boat and cut it down till I got it right. It took a little more time, but the last thing I want is gel cracks.