Accurately drilling holes in a thick transom

[Nos4r2]

I've got to drill 4 to 6 10mm holes in the transom of the Ballistic to mount the auxiliary bracket. The transom is very thick-so much so that the 8hp aux won't fit on it without one.

Any tips on accurately drilling so I don't go askew on the way through? Bear in mind it's got to be done outdoors with a generator running the drill.

[bedajim]

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

I've got to drill 4 to 6 10mm holes in the transom of the Ballistic to mount the auxiliary bracket. The transom is very thick-so much so that the 8hp aux won't fit on it without one.

Any tips on accurately drilling so I don't go askew on the way through? Bear in mind it's got to be done outdoors with a generator running the drill.

bit of plate with a hole in & a tube welded to it, clamped onto the transom

Or a couple of engineers squares and mates with good eyes

[Mollers]

Just drill the thing ya wuss.

PS, get a decent cordless, Fred Dibnah.

[Hightower]

I agree with Mollers. Get ya missus to stand to one side whilst you drill. She can poke you hard if you start to wander off target.

[Downhilldai]

Experience is handy for this task.

bedajim, as ever, over-engineers the solution (nothing wrong with that!). You could alternatively use a bench drill to drill out guide holes through a 9x2 offcut of timber (joist) as a quicker, easier & cheaper option.

Does it matter though, if the drill runs off a touch? Do you have a drilled plate on the inside that the bolts all need to go through?

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Experience is handy for this task.

bedajim, as ever, over-engineers the solution (nothing wrong with that!). You could alternatively use a bench drill to drill out guide holes through a 9x2 offcut of timber (joist) as a quicker, easier & cheaper option.

Does it matter though, if the drill runs off a touch? Do you have a drilled plate on the inside that the bolts all need to go through?

No, but I was going to put a pad on the inside too afterwards.

I don't like the idea of bolts sticking out at odd angles. It looks wrong and untidy. It's quite easy drilling Searider transoms etc, they're nowhere near as thick.

the 9x2 sounds like a good solution. It's a shame no-one makes/hires out a suction version of a mag drill.

[PeterM]

Nos..you have just started a hole drilling thread....please can you report yourself to yourself.... ;-)

[Nick Hearne]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Nos..you have just started a hole drilling thread....please can you report yourself to yourself.... ;-)

I think he has been out in the sun too long!

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Nos..you have just started a hole drilling thread....please can you report yourself to yourself.... ;-)

I know...

It's not like it's 'how do I drill a hole in my console for an M6' though!

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

I think he has been out in the sun too long!

I think it's known as ballistic syndrome.....

How do you drill an M6 hole anyhow?

Sorry Nos....I've had an odd afternoon and couldn't help myself..

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by PeterM

I think it's known as ballistic syndrome.....

How do you drill an M6 hole anyhow?

Sorry Nos....I've had an odd afternoon and couldn't help myself..

GO AWAY! Pedant

[Mollers]

Hire a mighty magdrill and line up a square of 3/8 mild steel plate on the inside.

If you'd like to upgrade yer brace and bit Nos, Screw'u'fix had a Botch 18v Combi with 2x3Ah Lithium ion Batts on special for one hundred english pounds the other day. That is a proper good buy.
Usually cordless stuff on 'special' have hopeless 1.3Ah batts.

[paddlers]

Worth doing right, I made a right b0llocks of drilling my transom & it looks crap !

[Nasher]

Mat

Used one of these to do mine, unfortunately somebody I lent it to broke it though.

Black and Decker Drill Stand | eBay

I'd even modified it to fit my Bosch drill.

Nasher.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Hire a mighty magdrill and line up a square of 3/8 mild steel plate on the inside.

If you'd like to upgrade yer brace and bit Nos, Screw'u'fix had a Botch 18v Combi with 2x3Ah Lithium ion Batts on special for one hundred english pounds the other day. That is a proper good buy.
Usually cordless stuff on 'special' have hopeless 1.3Ah batts.

You try holding a mag drill at 90 degrees while it's drilling-or clamping 10mm plate onto your transom!
I did something a bit more special than that

I've got a couple of Bosch 12v cordless -one of them that the battery died on.

It's now powered via a pair of croc clips onto the boat batteries.


For £100 in my back pocket, I'll lug the genny out there and use the gutbuster!

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Nasher

Mat

Used one of these to do mine, unfortunately somebody I lent it to broke it though.

Black and Decker Drill Stand | eBay

I'd even modified it to fit my Bosch drill.

Nasher.

That might be possible-cheers!

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by paddlers

Worth doing right, I made a right b0llocks of drilling my transom & it looks crap !

Honest, but

[captnjack]

If you're fussy get a drill jig, like this:
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...FQ9yQgod2R8AGA

Or this
AccuDrill Drill Guide | Toolmonger

[Into The Blue]

How about you mark the hole pattern on the inside and outside of the transom. Drill from both sides to exactly half depth with as small a pilot drill as possible.
As you increase diameter and depth of drill in small increments IF you are close to right the drill will self centre on the pilot hole on the other side.
Or is that a load of boll@@ks?

[whisper]

Originally Posted by Into The Blue

How about you mark the hole pattern on the inside and outside of the transom. Drill from both sides to exactly half depth with as small a pilot drill as possible.
As you increase diameter and depth of drill in small increments IF you are close to right the drill will self centre on the pilot hole on the other side.
Or is that a load of boll@@ks?

That makes perfect sense......