Do this to every mark to assure the drill bit goes in at the exact point you want it to. Chipping from the drill bit itself gelcoat chips away during screwing.
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How to drill into fiberglass. Keep an even forward pressure when the hole saw engages the fiberglass surface. If you go in to the fiberglass with a regular twist drill a number of things can happen. Increase the rotational speed of the bit. Drill a chamfer edged hole in your fiberglass the size you wish your final hole to be. Put the point of a large nail on the marks and tap it with a hammer forming an indent in the fiberglass. Step 3 put on safety glasses and drill pilot holes on the marks that are half the size of the final holes using an electric drill.
Either using your hand or if you have clearance the drill running in reverse lightly score the fiberglass inside the bilge by applying pressure rotating the hole saw bit. The chamfer should have an edge slope of approximately 116 of an inch. Hold the center 14 inch drill bit of the hole saw perpendicular to the shower wall over the previously drilled pilot holes. Begin drilling on the slowest speed possible until the drill begins to bite into the fiberglass. Allow the bit itself to cut into the surface of the fiberglass slowly and gently. The method i use which works about 999 of the time is to put the drill in reverse drill through the gelcoat then put the drill in forward and drill through the rest of the laminate.
To do this start from inside the bilge compartment and insert the hole saw bit into the hole you drilled in the previous step. Start the drill and gently push forward allowing the drill bit to cut into the material. 5 when the brad point penetrates the surface on the bottom. Run your chamfer bit at a slow speed and again put no pressure on the bit. If you simply attempt to drill a hole into the fiberglass you will have extreme difficulty in drilling holes without cracking the gelcoat.
Gallery of How To Drill Into Fiberglass
