12-24 Hardware or Search for the Holy Grail
While working on Vahalla, and leaning on the lifeline, I noticed that the aft padeye was lifting. With little effort I removed the padeye. The original hardware seemed to have been chrome plated bronze. The center of the machine screws was a nice barn red.
The pad is designed for 12-24 flat headed machine screws. 1/4-20 will not go through the holes. I have the holes plugged with 12-24 x 2" zinc plated machine screws so I know that they exist in some fashion. Before taking out my No 8 drill and fixing everything, I thought I'd try to locate the SS hardware.
Jamestown has SS at 1/2 and 3/4 inches and I have to buy a box. Is there anyone else stocking or manufacturing 12-24 x 1 1/2" Do I go to a machine shop and have them make 10 pieces? Any suggestions?
Chesapeake Marine Fasteners
Chesapeake Marine Fasteners will sell any quantity (even though their catalog only list boxes for most things) and they charge a surprisingly reasonable shipping charge. I've literally ordered 4 bolts from them, figuring it was cheaper than the gas to drive there.
The Land of Pleasant Living
Mike,
So I was young and working for Jerry Wood at Annapolis Sailing School....(One weekend and we turned the public almost loose on the Bay) If they came back with a smile, we knew we had new sailors....and this was in Rainbows yet.
I had use of most any boat after work, so my wife and I would grab a friend or two, and sail until the breeze died. One evening we found that the Navy had moored a Nuke off the Academy. We were out for nice sail, and had to take a turn around the sub. If you have been close you might have noticed a friendly Marine on the sail, taking in the evening breeze.....with a steely eye and and ak47. A sub looks strange, with it's whale like body and then about 30-50 ft aft of that is a fin with control surfaces as the Navy refers to them. Seeing that "open water" between the hull and the fin, looked like an invitation to sail over a sub. My wife objected and the marine looked more and more steely and less and less friendly....but it was tempting...
I don't know what his problem was...I had my running lights on..