Sea Tel 5012-91, Installation Manual, Page: 132 / 138

Procedure, Radome Strain Relief Installation
Page 3 of 6
Document No
131226 Rev A
Form # 117140-B
4.3 Measure, mark and drill pilot holes
CAUTION: The hole locations cannot be determined accurately from outside of the radome.
Using full scale drawing 132234, provided in the strain relief kit, measure mark and drill pilot holes from
the inside out, and using only light pressure, use the small drill bit, (~1/8” dia) to make a pilot hole
through each planned location.
4.4 Use the hole saw from the outside with light pressure.
CAUTION: Using the hole saw from the inside is likely to damage the Gel Coat.
CAUTION: Heavy pressure on the hole saw from the inside is likely to damage the Gel Coat and
splinter the fiberglass.
Working from the outside, use a 1-3/8” hole saw to make the holes for the planned strain reliefs.
4.5 After holes are drilled CAREFULLY use a file to clean the hole edges.
4.6 Test fit the strain reliefs in each location, then, make adjustments as
necessary.
4.7 Sealing the hole edges.
CAUTION : Cut edges can allow water and/or ice ingress and weaken the fiberglass laminate or
structural foam. It is essential to seal all cut edges thoroughly with fiberglass resin to preserve the
radome’s structural strength.
CAUTION: Fiberglass paste or RTV silicone sealant will not wick into and seal the fiberglass strands as
well as fiberglass resin, ONLY use fiberglass resin (such as TAP PLASTICS MARINE VINYL ESTER,
or equivalent) for sealing the cut edges.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to mix a small amount of fiberglass resin and catalyst, then
working quickly, use a disposable brush to apply mixed fiberglass resin to the hole edges, both inside
and out.
Allow the fiberglass resin to set per resin manufacturer’s instructions.
Note: Like all chemical reactions, set time will be temperature/humidity dependent.
4.8 Refer to strain relief assembly drawing 124903
Being careful not to damage either the radome or the strain relief threads, use adjustable pliers to install
strain reliefs.
Fig. 4 – Outside view.