how do you attach T-tops?

[love2fish]

I've been wondering how exactly you "bolt" down t-tops and towers to the stringers? Like on Lilrichard's, did you just drill a pilot hole into the aluminum "pi" pieces you stalled on your stringers and then drill bolt the tower down into them?

[LilRichard]

I drilled a hole into the aluminum under the floor.  I then tapped the aluminum with a 1/4x20 tap.  The tower then screws into the tapped hole.

[Mad Dog]

A T-Top puts far less stress on the sole and stringers.  My console spans the width of the stringers so I added backer plates under the sole.  I drilled the bolt holes out and inserted 5/16 SS T-Nuts.  With four bolts per leg, four legs, plus braces attached to the console I am confident the T-Top will be secure.

A tower though is a different story.  If I went that route I would bolt through the stringers.  If you do tape alumimun be sure to coat the threads to prevent electrolysis corrosion between the plate and the SS bolts.

MD