> This past week I came up with an idea for a non-recessed deck fitting (My
> Guillemot is still totally naked). Over the past couple evenings I've made
> one and attached it to a glassed test panel. I'm happy with the results
> and convinced that they'll offer a very sturdy anchor for both bungies and
> perimeter lines, and since the fixture is all wood, it will still
> compliment the deck. (How's that for a teaser? Nothing compares to Mick's
> teaser. I promise to have pictures posted by Monday.)

> To mount these little gems, I need to drill a lot of 1/4" holes in
> the deck. I'm concerned that I could delaminate the glass while drilling
> if I'm not careful. I'm considering making some sort of template of lauan
> that I can strap to the deck that would keep the glass from lifting while
> I drill through a hole in the template. Does anyone have any tricks that
> would help me?

> Thanks,

> Ross

> ps. Don't ask me how I justify deck hardware when I went to the trouble of
> doing the underdeck hatch hold-downs. I can't. Call me fickle. ;-)

You fickle, fickle, fickle, mainlining stripper - you simply have to stop before you add all kinds of bits and blobs and sticks and swirls (all wood of course) to that beautiful yak that you are building.

BUT, to allow you your dalliance, what about mounting the female side of a chicago screw in your 1/4 in holes and glassing over from below.

Now you have some options:

1/ of pleasing me and every other righteous dude who likes clean lines - by just screwing in a little wood plug.

2/ or of fulfilling whatever ridiculous, misadventurous fantasy you have about more knobby fittings sticking out of your yak by unscrewing the plug and then screwing (and screwing up!) in blobs of whatever misguided shape you desire!

-mick