Axis Wakeboard Boat Forum

I need to add pull up cleats to a brand new boat. I will be adding the Accon marine 450-6 inch cleats. I need to drill two 7/8" holes per cleat. What is the best choice to use for drilling the holes? I was planning on using a regular hole saw, but at 7/8" I cant find one that I can run in reverse. At that size they are the screw on ones that just back themselves off in reverse.

How about a grit style hole saw? Are there ones that are arboured and would work in reverse?

Will a regular drill bit work fine? How about a forstner bit?

Once I drill the holes, what is the best way to chamfer the hole? The largest chamfer bit I can find is a 3/4" one. Will that work for a 7/8" hole or will it be to small?

Thanks

What about a spade bit? I don't think a Forstner bit would do enough in reverse. A regular bit would probably be safest if you can find one that big. Good luck!

I was told by one person not to use a spade bit. Any guys that work on the gel coat regularly if you have some feedback that would be great!

Anyone else with some suggestions?

Sorry, just throwing out ideas, I have no experience drilling into gel with a spade bit.

So I guess the small size is your problem? The ones I used to do the paddle wheel on my old boat were fine to run in reverse, but the smallest in the set was 1". They look like this, since the hole is not round, it won't unscrew when you don't want it to:


But when it turned out that wasn't deep enough, I went and got this Milwaukee that was all one piece, only the drill bit could be replaced. You could check if they make anything like this in the size you want:


The only other kind I can think of is an auger bit. But I think it would have the same downside as the Forstner- basically both of those are meant to shave off a thin layer of wood on each revolution. I tend to think they either wouldn't cut or would bind up in the fiberglass because they try to remove too much material at once.

Hmm, how about a masonry bit? Should be easy to find in that size, though I'm not sure how well it would cut in this situation.

Pretty sure this would do it for you. You can order the individual pieces as well if you don't want the whole kit. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0017WTUQA

You cant run the 7/8" in reverse. After much research you should be using a grit style hole saw (don't have to be run in reverse). The grit style cut a nice hole and I am happy with it. As for a large chamfer bit, that was a different story.

Try to find a hole saw like this, I just cut 3 holes in my new countertop at work and this bit went through it like butter, I'm not sure on the material but its similar to quartz or granite.
The bits are called ROTO Brute