I need to mount a cleat to the bow of my aluminum boat and it would require me drilling into a weld. Is this okay to do?
As long as it’s not in a high stress area I wouldn’t have a problem with it. As a rule of thought it should be actually be a stronger/thicker place where the weld is.
“Why Bruce?”
If it is a bow cleat it’s going to be high stress. I would find a better spot or differently shaped cleat.
we will normally grind the spot flat, touch up the paint, and drill the holes, and use self drilling screws
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what fred said. that weld should be stronger than anything else. your drill bit may even try to “walk off” the weld and want to go into the easier sheet metal.
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