From: Keffords
Sent: September-13-11
To: Will Curry
Subject: Tashi Delek Hydrovane

Dear Will,

The Beneteau 42 is a normal light displacement plastic boat and perhaps rather thin and flexible at the stern.

We strengthened the transom with two layers of 6mm marine ply glued to the fibreglass with Sikaflex glue. Because the hull along the transom is not completely flat we bedded the wood backing plates onto the fibreglass with ISOPON Fibreglass filler to take up the curves as the bolts were tightened. We cut off the excess fibreglass while it was still relatively soft, thus creating a perfect edge around the wooden backing plate. The bolts inside had 4mm steel backing plates (discs or flat oblong) made to better fit the hull shape.

The main problem we had was the position of the locker in the swimming platform and the fact that we could not get any access to the rear transom to hold or tighten bolts. We overcame this by cutting a panel in the locker (photo included) gluing the two layers of marine ply in place before drilling and fitting backing plates. (Unfortunately I did not think to photo the inside before we sealed it up). The panel was made into an inspection hatch by using a piece of FOAMALITE cut oversize and glued onto the original panel of fibre glass we had cut out. Finally we used self taping screws and fitted it on a bed of sealant.

We put the whole thing together using plastic pipe to check that the pads sat correctly and everything was in line and vertical etc. Only then did we find that the outer tube strut that you had sent was not long enough and did not fit our design! As you know we found another piece of tube and the rest is history.

We are VERY satisfied with the way it fits the transom (especially as we did not then have to move the name etc). We have just sailed to Madeira using it with ease and great success all the way. Another satisfied customer!

May I order some spare securing pins?

With kind regards.

Mike

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