Nice drawing, Macojoe, but there are no nuts on the inside of the tubes. That is a good idea for the forward bolts, because the force would tend to compress the tube at front. It wouldn't do anything on the back bolts as the force there is to pull up against the 4" x 14" x 1/4" 6061 alum backing plates beneath the foredeck. I don't think the front of the tube will compress because the back of the tube is not gonna lift - that is where the real strain is. We'll see, because I ain't changing it unless I have to. :'(

The bolts I used were not threaded all the way. I don't like threaded all the way. They are weaker and I feel that the threads can act like a file over time if there is any flex, or expansion and contraction - which certainly will occur. The 1/8 " wall tube is stronger than it sounds, but it did bow outwards slightly when I tightened (overtightened?) the 1/2 bolts. Nuts on the inside would have prevented that.

Thanks for your input, Macojoe. :)