I decided to tap the threads because of my experience the prior summer when I added more small cleats to the bottom of the boom.  That time I drilled pilot holes and used stainless sheet metal screws but it was hard to avoid stripping them.  That inspired me to get a tap and die set (an excuse for more tools!) and give that a try.  I may have done more work than necessary, which often seems to be the case :)

On Tue, Dec 7, 2021, 8:09 PM Peter Nyberg <peter at sunnybeeches.com> wrote:

> I'm pretty sure that's what I did, or I might have even used wood screws.
>
> I probably got the idea that this would be OK because every piece of
> hardware attached to the mast or boom that was put in place by General
> Boats that I have removed was attached by screws, not bolts. I can identify
> with the notion that because tapping threads into the boom is more work, it
> must be the better solution, but I'm not at all certain that's actually
> true.
>
> Also, I don't know if it's significant that in this case the forces
> applied to the screws (or bolts) would be sheer, not tension (I think I'm
> using those terms correctly).
>
> Perhaps Roger would care to comment.
>
> --Peter
>
> > On 2021-12-07, at 18:49:55 EST, Reuben Mezrich wrote:
> >
> > Glad you mentioned this… I was just going to use sheet mettal screws
> >
> > Reuben Mezrich
> > Cell: 410-499-8922
> >
> >
>
>