Attaching stuff to my A-frame...

[DGR]

What's the best way of permanently attaching things to the a-frame, without having to resort to welding?

I'm trying to mount 2 liferings to the a-frame and although they come with a plastic clamp to attach to 1" tubes (like a rail on a yacht) - mine are 2" tubes and so won't fit directly - they came with a stainless steel mounting bracket/adaptor - but there isn't really anywhere to attach it to!! The only flat bit of steel on the side of the A-frame is where the Nav lights are, and apart from obscuring them, they would look stupid stuck up that high.

The only thing I've though of so far is 2" ss u-bolts and a ss plate to give me a flat that I can attach the bracket to.

Any other ideas?

Dylan...

Pics of the bits/problem attached...

[Scott2]

cable ties?

attach them onto that box you've got at the back, flat instead of upright?

[DGR]

I just KNEW someone would suggest cable ties!! The whole assembly keeps moving round on cable ties until they rest on the tubes.

I had thought about putting them flat - but I think that they would slide out of their cradles. I'll have a look to see if there is any obvious way of keeping them in...

Dylan...

[Scott2]

or other option, mounted upright on the box at the back, on the sides.

[Jono Garton]

Hi Dylan

If you buy the next plastimo one up around £60, it comes as a kit with a cover that straps around your a frame and a long line on a roll attached. The ones you have there will not meet coding requirments unless you put drogues on them or long lines (ill post a pic when i'm back 2 moro)

Failing that take the plastic bit of the ones you have, get two jubilee clips and fasten them on (i did it this way on the pro sports).

[tue]

My flag pole is held on with 2 heavy duty stainless steel exhaust clamps. They work like jubilees, but have a nut and bolt to clamp up rather than the screw and thread on the jubilee. Will take a pic tomorrow if I remember. They are very strong (I can drive at 20knots with my 'A' flag up and it doesn't budge and inch).

This is the best I have of one at the moment

[nickjaxe]

Stainless jubilee clips.

Nick.

[Simon B]

We use a lightning banding type product from Cromwell tools its basically endless jubilee clipping that you can cut to length its in stainless and can be done up quite tight. Its good for emergency hose clips

[Pete7]

Dylan, thats a really nice boat, do it properly, frame off and in to have two new plates welded on and polished up. Won't be much if you take the frame off yourself.

Pete

[Simon B]

Get a stainless fabricator to do it in situ using a TIG set there wont be any spatter just a nice clean weld, no need to take A frame off. Only thing to be wary of is welds near to the base of the frame might conduct heat into the deck or to the tube and melt/burn it.