I am looking for advice on mounting a small rectangular piece of metal to thin fiberglass/plastic. I am concerned about the mount point breaking if the item on the mount is bumped into. Details below...
A couple years ago, I mounted my fish finder on my pontoon console. I wanted to have the fish finder high enough that I could pivot it and see it when I was in front of the console. Therefore, I built an open, rectangular box out of synthetic home deck boards (pictures below). I think I glued them together with 3M 5200 or 4200 sealant. I also glued the base of the box to the console with the same sealant. The sealant didn't hold the box together a year later (smooth fake-wood), so I gorilla glued the pieces together. The base is still on with the 5200/4200.
Here is how it looks now:
Now that I've used the fish finder in this location and I'm happy with it being there, I am planning to replace the crude box with a more permanent solution. I plan on mounting the fish finder to the console with a ParkerMount device. With this solution, I can have a multi-jointed mount that will allow complete freedom of location.
ParkerMount with Toughbar Elbow:
The above picture uses a suction mount. The mount I will be using is a permanent mount. It measures 2"x2.5", with 4 bolts holding it in place.
The console appears to be some sort of plastic outside reinforced with thin fiberglass inside. The two layers are probably 1/8" combined. I'm concerned with the leverage of the long arm that the mount point may break if I just bolt the mount through the plastic/fiberglass. I'm looking for recommendations on how to mount it.
My currently considered options are:
1) Put a larger piece of plywood or metal plate on the underside of the console and bolt the mount through the console to the bottom support piece. This should distribute the load more than the small mount and washers.
2) Same as (1), but also put a piece of wood or metal plate on the top side of the console too. The mount could then either be bolted/screwed to the top piece or could be bolted through both top and underside pieces. What this buys me is if something heavy pushes on the mount point from above, it won't break down into the console as easily.
3) Fashion or buy some sort of bracket that will fit onto the aluminum railing to the starboard side of the console and bolt the mount to that bracket.
Thoughts on the above options or other options I haven't considered?
Thanks!
A couple years ago, I mounted my fish finder on my pontoon console. I wanted to have the fish finder high enough that I could pivot it and see it when I was in front of the console. Therefore, I built an open, rectangular box out of synthetic home deck boards (pictures below). I think I glued them together with 3M 5200 or 4200 sealant. I also glued the base of the box to the console with the same sealant. The sealant didn't hold the box together a year later (smooth fake-wood), so I gorilla glued the pieces together. The base is still on with the 5200/4200.
Here is how it looks now:
Now that I've used the fish finder in this location and I'm happy with it being there, I am planning to replace the crude box with a more permanent solution. I plan on mounting the fish finder to the console with a ParkerMount device. With this solution, I can have a multi-jointed mount that will allow complete freedom of location.
ParkerMount with Toughbar Elbow:
The above picture uses a suction mount. The mount I will be using is a permanent mount. It measures 2"x2.5", with 4 bolts holding it in place.
The console appears to be some sort of plastic outside reinforced with thin fiberglass inside. The two layers are probably 1/8" combined. I'm concerned with the leverage of the long arm that the mount point may break if I just bolt the mount through the plastic/fiberglass. I'm looking for recommendations on how to mount it.
My currently considered options are:
1) Put a larger piece of plywood or metal plate on the underside of the console and bolt the mount through the console to the bottom support piece. This should distribute the load more than the small mount and washers.
2) Same as (1), but also put a piece of wood or metal plate on the top side of the console too. The mount could then either be bolted/screwed to the top piece or could be bolted through both top and underside pieces. What this buys me is if something heavy pushes on the mount point from above, it won't break down into the console as easily.
3) Fashion or buy some sort of bracket that will fit onto the aluminum railing to the starboard side of the console and bolt the mount to that bracket.
Thoughts on the above options or other options I haven't considered?
Thanks!
