Re: [Paddlewise] inner hull tie devices

I have had success with the plastic D-rings with plate and using Marine Goop
to "glue" them in place under the deck in my cockpit of my Romany 16.  Put
four in and strung a piece of shock cord between them in an X pattern.  Store
my paddle float there when I don't need the space for a small dry bag with
personal first aid supplies, binoculars, camera and the like.  Did a similar
thing on the bulkhead behind my seat, only there I used three D-rings and
epoxied them in place.  Formed a triangle with shock cord.  Again, a good
place for the paddle float.  The trick to the upside down placement of the D-
rings in the cockpit was to hang the boat upside down at the proper level so I
could stand with my head inside the cockpit.  I pre-marked the position to
place the D-rings.  Roughed the surfaces with some sandpaper, cleaned them
well and applied the Goop to the plate and placed them, with D-ring in place,
on the marks.  I then covered the area with waxed paper and placed a nylon
water bag filled with warm water, over the waxed paper so as to apply even
pressure over the area.  Waited 24 hours for the Goop to setup, removed the
water bag, waxed paper and any excess Goop.  Strung the shockcord and lowered
the boat back down.

I've also Gooped in D-rings inside my hatches to attach my keys to as well as
to tether my hatch covers (they have tabs on the inside) to.

I've not had any problems with either the Gooped or epoxied D-rings, though an
engineer friend suggested the Goop would be more forgiving of the temperature
extremes that I paddle in as it is more flexible than epoxy.  I've also seen a
boat that instead of the plated D-ring, a D-ring was secured to the hull by a
piece of flat webbing being epoxied on both ends to the hull with the D-ring
in the middle of it.

I think these methods will work well on composite boats (fiberglass, kevlar)
but not sure about on plastic boats.  The trick is in the adhesive.

Good Luck.

John Browning
Milwaukee, WI
www.wildernessconnection.com
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