Anyone ever use well nuts for compass mount?

pryaker

pryaker

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Powell River BC
Just about to mount a new compass into the factory deck well of composite boat. Last time I did this i just used the included screws and dabbed sealant over the points of the screws inside the boat. Looking into using bolts this time I was searching for small rubber washers and came upon a listing for well nuts and am wondering if they'd be a good way to install the compass. One big plus is they are installed "blind" from the top, sealing the hole as they deform when tightened. Downside is you have to drill bigger holes in your boat to allow the rubber to go through. Wondering if anybody has experience with them?
 
They should work fine, It's not like a compass is subjected to much strain.
My preference would be to use rivets though. Smaller holes required, and a bit tidier in my opinion.
 
I have used well nuts for inaccessible locations on my kayaks. I've not had problems, but I'm a flatwater paddler - no surfing, white water, etc. I recall that I bought them from TopKayaker.
 
Pryaker - Thanks for mentioning well nuts; I didn't know they existed till just now. Are well nuts available with stainless inserts? I noticed that the inserts seemed to be brass in all the examples I saw online. On Amazon there were some 'marine' versions listed which combined a brass well nut with a stainless machine screw. :eek:
Other thoughts- the well nut will create a small gap between the surface and the installed item. Also, by design there will be quite a bit of threaded fastener protruding, so that could cause a problem for snagging gear if the nut was in a storage compartment. In a location within arms length of a hatch, a nylock or acorn nut with the correct length fastener can make a fairly smooth install.
 
Good info folks, thanks. I was considering them as a means to having a waterproof penetration , not really to have a "blind" install, that was (sort of) just a bonus. My previous boat never seemed to leak with the small (#6) screws, I guess the seal well enough by threading into the composite deck. So I'll probably just use either a screw with tip ground off or a 6-32 bolt with nylock, perhaps with an oring or imrovised rubber washer under the washer.

John, glad to have brought something new to your attention. Well Nuts were a new discovery for me too. It's always good to have extra options. I hadn't thought of the brass/stainless issue; is that a huge problem? Galvanic interactions aren't a strong suit for me. And as far as the "stand off" from the rubber, in this case I think the bulkhead mount (Silva 70p) compass seems to have a bit of a recess between the bezel and the deck so wouldn't appear to be a problem.

Another thing I found online while search for options are "Stainless Steel Neoprene EPDM Bonded Sealing Gasket Washers" Amazon link here: Sealing Washers I probably should order the kit to have on hand but I'm probably going wait to see how the install goes with improvised washers.



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pryaker said:
So I'll probably just use either a screw with tip ground off or a 6-32 bolt with nylock, perhaps with an oring or imrovised rubber washer under the washer.
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I've found that a dab of Lexel works as well as anything for sealing fasteners. I've tried using O-rings, but not had much success. \
pryaker said:
John, glad to have brought something new to your attention.
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Thanks. Not (yet!) too old to learn something new. :)
pryaker said:
I hadn't thought of the brass/stainless issue; is that a huge problem? Galvanic interactions aren't a strong suit for me.
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Not as bad as the stainless+aluminum combination much loved for footpegs by certain boatbuilders (step right up NDK/SKUK, Mariner, etc..), but I'm always happier not mixing metals around salt water. Brass will corrode 'on its own' in salt water since it's an alloy of zinc and copper; it turns to something resembling a sponge after a few years. That's why it's never used in well-built boats - bronze is the better choice. Tef-Gel ($$) is a bit of help in preventing corrosion - for stainless fasteners in aluminum masts, for example, but it's not a cure-all.
pryaker said:
And as far as the "stand off" from the rubber, in this case I think the bulkhead mount (Silva 70p) compass seems to have a bit of a recess between the bezel and the deck so wouldn't appear to be a problem.
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Good.
pryaker said:
Another thing I found online while search for options are "Stainless Steel Neoprene EPDM Bonded Sealing Gasket Washers" Amazon link here: Sealing Washers I probably should order the kit to have on hand but I'm probably going wait to see how the install goes with improvised washers.
Click to expand...
Those are provided with some kayak gear - the Seaward paddlefloat strap kit has them, and the SeaLect (plastic) footpegs come with those washers, too. I should buy that kit; thanks for the link.
 
JohnAbercrombie said:
Also, by design there will be quite a bit of threaded fastener protruding, so that could cause a problem for snagging gear if the nut was in a storage compartment. In a location within arms length of a hatch, a nylock or acorn nut with the correct length fastener can make a fairly smooth install.
Click to expand...
I use the acorn nuts. It avoids gathering fresh blood in the kayak.
 
Because I hadn't seen it mentioned, and I've had some metal-to-compass interactions in the past, these nuts/bolts don't interfere with the compass reading - right?
 
Pretty simple to tell if any particular mounting hardware will effect your compass. Just hold the hardware next to the compass and see if the card moves.
 
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