LarryJ wrote:
thanks Herbaldew. I'll start with an 8-32 tap and see if it matches the existing holes on the starboard. The crossbar receptical (to which the aka attaches on the boat) on the '11 and '12 AI is not metal any longer. it's hard plastic.
Checking the hole size with a tap isn't a good idea as you have a high chance of opening that existing hole up, decreasing the tolerences of the joint. In steel it wouldn't matter but in a soft material like plastic or aluminum you can lower the holding power of the threads severly. Instead, remove a screw and compare that to the tap or buy a 8-32 nut, compare the nut to the screw, then compare the nut to the tap, and find that the nut is a poor fit to the tap. This is normal. Lol...
If the threads compare and the diameter looks the same it should work just fine. If you have the drill size, it may be better to drill a hole that is a1/64th smaller than is called for by the tap to drill chart.
Cheers,
J