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Hey everyone,
I was replacing the downhaul and halyard cleats on my H14 this weekend, and have 2 questions about the halyard cleat replacement. I drilled out the rivits for the existing cleat without a problem, but when I went to install the new one I found that the holes didn't line up (it's an old boat, and apparently they changed to a new cleat several years ago). Not a problem, I just used the existing top hole as the new bottom hole and drilled a new upper hole. The new cleat fits fine now, but that leaves a 3/16" hole in my mast just below my halyard cleat.
First question: any recommendations on how to seal up this hole? I put some RTV in there for now, but this probably isn't ideal. I'm thinking along the lines of some sort of putty - can I just use marine-tex or something like that?
Second question: While pulling the second rivit for the new halyard cleat, I released my riviter to open the jaws and re-grab the mandrel, and to my surprise the mandrell fell right through the rivit and into the mast, leaving me with nothing to pull on! Has this ever happened to anyone else? The mandrel had already started spreading the bottom of the rivit and it appears to be holding ok, but I don't have the satisfaction in a job well-done that that "POP" gives you when the mandrel breaks off.
I know the halyard cleat doesn't normally get much load on it as it's only taking up the slack (the hook and ball at the top of the mast hold up the sail), but I also use the halyard cleat to tension the rig and keep the mast from slapping back and forth when the boat's not in use (mast stays up all summer). This tensioning line does pull pretty hard on the halyard cleat. I grabbed onto the new cleat and pulled as hard as I could and couldn't get it to budge so I think it's probably ok, but wanted to get some input from the group as well. Any thoughts? Thanks!
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-Bill
Conesus Lake, NY
1976 Hobie 14
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