After office hours yesterday, I headed to the shop to progress the hardware installation. At this point, a few fairleads for the roller furling line, the motor mount bracket on the aft deck, and the rail-mounted jib tracks. My goal for the evening was to get started on the rail-mounted jib tracks. I set up a working station on the starboard side deck, retrieved the new Ronstan starboard jib track and other tools and materials that I would need.

I first laid out the location of the jib track - the forward edge of the track would more or less align with the freshly mounted bronze coaming cleat. Jib sheet would be brought aft to the track-mounted block and then run forward to the winch and terminate on the coaming cleat. Satisfied with the location, I then applied some tape to the rail to mark the location of the first fastener, #10 stainless steel machine screws 2.5" in length. After marking the first fastener location, I used a small block to achieve plumb on the entry of the drill bit that also corresponded with the slight outboard angle of the toe rail. I progressed through three drill bits, increasing in size as I went. Since I would not be tapping these fastener holes and did want a snug fit, I chose the final drill bit to be fractionally undersized from the #10 machine screw. I drove the screw partially in and then moved the track to mark for the second fastener. After repeating the steps fro drilling out the fastener, I drove the second fastener partially in and then manipulated the t-track to begin to take the gentle curve of the toe rail, and marked for the third fastener. I repeated these steps for all eight fasteners. With all fastener holes drilled, I removed the t-track and prepped for final installation: removal of the tape, an acetone wipe, and then application of Sitkaflex 291-lot at each fastener hole. I replaced the t-track and drove the fasteners 95% of the way in, finishing off with a screwdriver. I wiped up the Sitkaflex squeeze out, and returned to the shop for lock washers and nylon lock nuts.

One by one, I secured the machine screws from the underside with the lock washers and nuts. The starboard rail-mounted jib track now installed, I quickly cleaned up the mess I made and locked up the shop for the evening.

Total Hrs: 1.75