1974 Catalina 27 TR with the drop down table. I want to mount an oil lantern with smoke bell between the starboard portholes in the salon. To accomplish this, due to the angled cabin liner, I've cut an angled piece of teak to mount directly to the liner, which the lantern will then be screwed into. This will allow the lantern to rest horizontally and give the gimbles room to swing. It will also give a little more clearance for the smoke bell.
Considering the shallow depth of the topsides between the window; what would everyone recommend as a permanent way of mounting this piece of teak? My concern is that if I sink screws through the block and into the topside hull, I could possibly screw though to the outer deck, providing a possible water infiltration point. Would anybody epoxy or glue this block in, and then trust it with a fuel filled lantern? Or should I just screw it in? Does anyone know the approximate thickness of the hull between the windows? Any thoughts are appreciated. Bryan Inclination, Chicago.
