Set of barrel nuts with required larger washers for use where standard nuts and cap nuts could cause damage to heads or are unsightly when installed.
These specialty fasteners are included as part of our genoa track kits and have had requests for them separately as they are handy for creating a clean, flush installation.
The washers included are larger diameter to match the outside diameter of the barrel nut. For a new installation, the following steps should be taken to help ensure for a secure, water tight installation.
1) Locate the position of the required hole for the hardware to be installed, double checking the leads for any lines are good before drilling.
2) Drill through the deck with a bit sized for the fastener to be used, rocking the drill slightly to enlarge the hole for the following steps.
3) Depending on where you are drilling you may encounter void(s) between the deck and the inner liner that creates the finished look overhead when inside the boat. Use tape to damn up the newly drilled hole and back fill any void with thickened epoxy allowing to cure.
4) Use the same drill bit from step 2 to make sure the hole(s) for the fasteners are clear of any excess epoxy.
The above applies for installation fasteners through the deck with the following extra steps necessary for use of these specialty barrel nuts.
5) Locate a drill bit that is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the washers included in the kit. For this particular kit, the washers are 1/4" inside diameter, so a 5/16" drill bit would be a good choice.
6) Use the barrel nut to measure the depth needed for clearance for sealant around the barrel nut for the installation. Place the tip of the bit up against the flange on the barrel nut, applying tape to the drill bit where the end of the threaded body of the barrel nut lands on the bit.
7) Use the larger drill bit with the tape "stopper" to drill from the inside, barrel nut side, of the hole. Hint, use a small paper cup with a hole for the bit below the tape "stopper" to help collect the debris, save time on clean up.
8) Apply Marelube or similar to the threads of the barrel nut(s) to prevent
galling and test fit the fastener(s) and new hardware to make sure all is good before applying sealant for the final installation. Keep in mind that barrel nuts require fasteners that are the correct length so that the barrel nuts can seal the assembly before the threads bottom out. Given deck thickness can vary from boat to boat, location to location, having a variety different fasteners lengths is helpful and often required.
9) Remove fasteners, bed new hardware, head and threads of fastener with sealant, cleaning up any excess that may squeeze out past the washer and barrel nut inside when tightening. It is good practice to have a helper secure the bolt to prevent it from turning above deck, turning the barrel nut inside to complete the installation.
