Start the drill and gently push forward allowing the drill bit to cut into the material. To do this start from inside the bilge compartment and insert the hole saw bit into the hole you drilled in the previous step.
Screwing Into Fiberglass Cruisers Amp Sailing Forums
How to drill into fiberglass. Either using your hand or if you have clearance the drill running in reverse lightly score the fiberglass inside the bilge by applying pressure rotating the hole saw bit. Begin drilling on the slowest speed possible until the drill begins to bite into the fiberglass. Keep an even forward pressure when the hole saw engages the fiberglass surface. The method i use which works about 999 of the time is to put the drill in reverse drill through the gelcoat then put the drill in forward and drill through the rest of the laminate. Run your chamfer bit at a slow speed and again put no pressure on the bit. Drill a chamfer edged hole in your fiberglass the size you wish your final hole to be.
Put the point of a large nail on the marks and tap it with a hammer forming an indent in the fiberglass. Do this to every mark to assure the drill bit goes in at the exact point you want it to. 5 when the brad point penetrates the surface on the bottom. If you go in to the fiberglass with a regular twist drill a number of things can happen. The chamfer should have an edge slope of approximately 116 of an inch. Increase the rotational speed of the bit.
Step 3 put on safety glasses and drill pilot holes on the marks that are half the size of the final holes using an electric drill. Chipping from the drill bit itself gelcoat chips away during screwing. Allow the bit itself to cut into the surface of the fiberglass slowly and gently. Hold the center 14 inch drill bit of the hole saw perpendicular to the shower wall over the previously drilled pilot holes. If you simply attempt to drill a hole into the fiberglass you will have extreme difficulty in drilling holes without cracking the gelcoat.
Gallery of How To Drill Into Fiberglass
