I think it is time to re-bed the ardware on my boat. Is there a "best" method?
dsfiii@yahoo.com
Waht is the correct method for re-sealing hardware?
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Larry DeMers
Re: What is the correct method for re-sealing hardware?
Dave,
Everyone probably has their favorite way to do it. I can only give you the method we have used for 10 years on our DeLaMer, A CD30 ('83).
If rebedding the stanchion bases, this is how we did it;
Pull all four of the bolts out, by having someone below holding a socket wrench or vice-grips on the selected nut.
Clean the deck and bolt holes out carefully, and clean the stanchion base off carefully. Ours had a large "O" ring in a recessed channel in the stanchion base. This probably still works ok, but we prefered to be sure, by adding a ribbon of Lifecaulk to the inside margin of this "o" ring. Judge how large the bead of sealant has to be by how much room there is for the bead. You don't want to get it on the "O" ring, as that would keep it from sealing.
{A note on caulks here. Whatever you do..do not use 3M5200! This is not the application for that product.}
Apply a good squirt of sealant down each of the bolt holes in the deck and coat the mid-portion of the bolt itself with a thin layer of sealant.
Send the helper below with lots of paper towels,as the sealant will be getting pushed out of the holes to some extent, and you need to keep control of it, as it goes everywhere. Set the stanchion base in place carefully,with one bolt held in lace by hand. This is to guide the base into position without too much disturbance of the sealant.
Once the four bolts are back in place, have the helper put the backingplate back on, then the washers and nut. Hold the nut still and turn the bolt from topside.
DO NOT TORQUE DOWN ON THE BOLTS YET, JUST LEAVE THEM HALF_SNUG FOR 4 HOURS.
This is to allow the sealant a chance to form a nontacky skin, which once formed, will act to squish more than spred out when the rest of the slack is taken out of the fitting, sealing the stanchion well.
THe same procedure would apply to all other deck mounted fittings that I can think of now. If you have specific problems, write and I'll see what I can do to help.
Cheers!
Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 ~~~Bustin' Waves on Lake Superior~~~~
demers@sgi.com
Everyone probably has their favorite way to do it. I can only give you the method we have used for 10 years on our DeLaMer, A CD30 ('83).
If rebedding the stanchion bases, this is how we did it;
Pull all four of the bolts out, by having someone below holding a socket wrench or vice-grips on the selected nut.
Clean the deck and bolt holes out carefully, and clean the stanchion base off carefully. Ours had a large "O" ring in a recessed channel in the stanchion base. This probably still works ok, but we prefered to be sure, by adding a ribbon of Lifecaulk to the inside margin of this "o" ring. Judge how large the bead of sealant has to be by how much room there is for the bead. You don't want to get it on the "O" ring, as that would keep it from sealing.
{A note on caulks here. Whatever you do..do not use 3M5200! This is not the application for that product.}
Apply a good squirt of sealant down each of the bolt holes in the deck and coat the mid-portion of the bolt itself with a thin layer of sealant.
Send the helper below with lots of paper towels,as the sealant will be getting pushed out of the holes to some extent, and you need to keep control of it, as it goes everywhere. Set the stanchion base in place carefully,with one bolt held in lace by hand. This is to guide the base into position without too much disturbance of the sealant.
Once the four bolts are back in place, have the helper put the backingplate back on, then the washers and nut. Hold the nut still and turn the bolt from topside.
DO NOT TORQUE DOWN ON THE BOLTS YET, JUST LEAVE THEM HALF_SNUG FOR 4 HOURS.
This is to allow the sealant a chance to form a nontacky skin, which once formed, will act to squish more than spred out when the rest of the slack is taken out of the fitting, sealing the stanchion well.
THe same procedure would apply to all other deck mounted fittings that I can think of now. If you have specific problems, write and I'll see what I can do to help.
Cheers!
Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 ~~~Bustin' Waves on Lake Superior~~~~
Dave Scott wrote: I think it is time to re-bed the ardware on my boat. Is there a "best" method?
demers@sgi.com