Chip & Debbie Willis on s\v Elegant'sea: Wind generator mount

OK we picked up our wind generator mount form Benchmark Custom Welding and then went to ME and got bolts and nuts and lock washer.

There it is sitting on the dock with a tether tied to it

We made a backing plate from some ½ marine plywood and then were ready to go.

After a lot of fitting we were ready to drill the wholes. Six of them, lots of hole in the boat again.

Debbie made a template from brown paper and taped it to the boat.

Opps no 3M UV 4000 form bedding so Back to ME for that.

Now we drill the pilot holes and then the right size wholes

Then some clean up with Acid-tone so the bedding compound 3M UV 4000 gets a good grip.

All those holes are scary looking!

We angled the mount so we could get the pole to mount straight up and down as best we could.

OK now we are ready for the mount installation. Debbie applied the 3M UV 4000 to the stern and mount and slid through the first bolt. I put the backing plate on over the bolt and oh sh.. the bolt is too short. Dam, it does not go through the backing plate. Only to the edge, I can feel the bolt but there is no room for a nut or washer. So we wipe off the 3m UV 4000 and clean up. Another trip to ME for longer bolts.

OK NOW we are ready to bolt in the mount!

We do a test bolt first

Debbie did the 3M UV 4000 application and held the bolts with the wrench as we tightened them alternatively several times as we squeezed out the 3M UV 4000 and got the bolts tight. I was reaching up and under the stern lazerett with my longer arms. All went well.

We had the mount made with the rubber mount bolts 8 1/4" from center to the end of the mount. That way the pole would clear the bimini but not be too far astern.

We used the same template that was used for the outboard motor mount after we tested to be sure the stern was the same angle at this point.