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The windows were due for replacement.
The line of the old sealant shows how close the perspex was to the bottom edge of the midship and aft window holes. The gel coat had been lifted by the self tapping screws at most of the screw holes and they were all filled before new holes were drilled. To fasten the new windows an alternative to self tappers was needed and brass press-in inserts for 4mm machine screws were used. The inserts were too long for the grp and had to have 3mm taken off.
The inserts are designed to compress as they are pressed into a slightly undersized hole and then expand as the screw goes in so that the knurled surface of the insert grips the walls of the hole. This together with the flange on the inside stops them from pulling through the grp when tightened to give a very strong and secure fixing.
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