Building a Sea Chest

[mbmcdermott18]

I have been working on fairing the outside for the last two days.

I am about to start drilling and cutting on the box for the plumbing pumps etc.

Does anyone have any experience overdrilling holes then filling with epoxy and tapping them for machine screws?

I am thinking of mounting my pumps this way.

[Blue_Heron]

Originally Posted by mbmcdermott18

Being able to make my own custom parts is going to be addictive. I already have a list of projects I want to do.

I know exactly what you mean. It is very cool to be able to cut up a little cloth, mix up some goo to stick it all together and have a useful part you designed yourself.

Originally Posted by mbmcdermott18

Does anyone have any experience overdrilling holes then filling with epoxy and tapping them for machine screws?

I am thinking of mounting my pumps this way.

Over drilling and filling with epoxy is used for wood cored laminates to isolate the screw hole from the wood. You don't need to do it with a solid laminate.

Glass laminate isn't ideal for drill and tap for machine screw threads but it can be done. Just make sure you goop things up real well with 5200. And you might want to back it up with a nut on the outside.

Dave

[mbmcdermott18]

Got done trimming up the flange and put a radius on the corners. Also snapped a picture with the pumps just sitting in the box.

The wires will exit the rear and be sealed by blue sea cable grommets.

I am going to try the method Dave mentioned for fastening the pumps to the floor of the box.

After doing some reading on west system's website I was thinking of using thickened epoxy to seal everything up. Thought this might bond everything together well but would also be paintable so I could fillet the amount that squeezed out and make it look like there was no joint.