Side Keel Fastening - The Final Solution

In the beginning there were wheel collars. They slipped over the side keel pins which ran through the side of the hull into the interior. They held the parts in place, but there was slop. Not a snug, tight fit. But they slipped on and off with ease and allowed me to check the fit of a particular piece quickly.

But I wanted the side keels secure -- nice and tight against the hull -- when it came time to gluing. So, I bought a die and threaded a pin to accept a stainless washer and nut. This proved a handful when working on the pin in the part. As I worked, the pin slipped out in my hand and voila, another inspiration.

Searching through my bench I found a length of brass rod the same diameter as the pins and I began to thread it. My goal now was to replace all the pins with threaded rod. As the first threaded pin replacement was completed, rather than tapping the pin hole I simply screwed it into the side keel where the pin went previously. The slightly oversized threads bit into the plastic nicely. Trying the new arrangement I slipped on the washer and nut. It snugged the part right down to the hull. Unfortunately the nut was a little oversized and slipped a bit as I played with it but the idea worked in principle.

While contemplating the replacement of the rest of the pins, a picture of all the pin lengths and nuts running down the midline of the hull interior came to mind. Not too pretty. How to make it appear more uniform and precise?

Inspiration came again in the form of a hex socket head cap screw lying on the bench. It was stainless, and of the same thread as the new pins. I pulled another pin from the side keel and threaded the cap screw into the hole. Perfect! It was self tapping, secured the side keel tightly against the hull and would provide a uniform appearance to the hull interior.

I quickly purchased enough 4-40 stainless cap screws and washers to replace all accessible pins (two on the extreme ends, fore and aft, were too hard to get to with an allen wrench to tighten). With some final alignment sanding, all four side keel parts are ready to be permanently glued in place.