What Kind Of Drill Bit To Use?

[Tequilasun]

Before we use any power tools, let's take a moment to talk about shop safety. Be sure to read, understand, and follow all the safety rules that come with your power tools. Knowing how to use your power tools properly will greatly reduce the risk of personal injury. And remember this: there is no more important safety rule than to wear these — safety glasses.

[jleger98]

I've done a bit of drilling on my boats in the past. I will strongly recommend starting from the gel-coat side, in reverse and MAKE SURE YOU MASKING TAPE around the hole. This keeps the bit from "chunking" the gel coat. Going in reverse will take longer than you think, but slow is the key here. I also agree with the high-grit sandpaper to "bevel" the edge of the gel coat. I have never gotten spider cracks before even when I didn't do this, but its still a good idea, especially where a tower is connected and there will be some torque.

[xpjim1]

Once you are through the gel coat you need to take some 1500 wet or dry sand paper and sand around the edges of the hole. If not in a year or so you MAY regret that you didn't. This was not done on my boat but thankfully for me when I got spider cracks a year later the dealer accepted responsibility for it and took care of the issues since they did the install work. $3600.00 later spider cracks were gone. Just my two cents worth.

Now you tell me this

[anhaney]

Now you tell me this

Sorry, I did not know when you started the thread. From the sounds of it you have finished the work.