I've had a couple of minor leaks around the hardware attaching the long teak handrails on the cabin top. I did a temp fix by caulking around the base of the offending attach points but am thinking of removing the rails and re-attaching them with new sealant.
Has anyone done this? Pitfalls? What sealant did you use to re-attach? I was wondering about the much touted butyl tape.
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Neil Roach
"Crewless"
1992 36, Mark I
Hull # 1174
Seattle
I have really enjoyed using butyl tape for sealing everything - definitely seems to work and is easy to use. I have rebedded several chainplates, cleats, and now just use butyl tape on anything that goes thru the deck.
I ordered mine from Maine Sail's site : http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/boat_projects
Tom Hahn
1983 C36 Mk1
Hull # 166
Kerr Lake, NC
When you rebed make sure you read MainSail's section on counter boring all of the holes. It gives a place for the butyl tape a place to stay. Just about everything I have done now is with butyl.... No leaks.
Ross & Joanne
Wavelength
Saint John NB
RKYC
C36 #658 TR 1987
Having re read mainssail article on butyl tape I did not see any mention of bedding wood rails or fittings to the deck. Does anyone have any experience with wood to deck attachments?
Neil Roach
"Crewless"
1992 36, Mark I
Hull # 1174
Seattle
Neil if you look at his other articles you will see info on bedding hardware. I have used it extensively on my rebuilds with great success. It remains flexible and is easy to cleanup and easy to remove after hardware removal. It is used extensivly in the refridgeration business along wqith the comercial window glazing.
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware
Ross & Joanne
Wavelength
Saint John NB
RKYC
C36 #658 TR 1987
Having read quite abit about butyl tape I am confident it will work well in most situations, sealing metal, fibre glass or plastic joints. It may well seal wood to fibreglass but before I take these rails off which are currently dry, I am asking th hear frome someone who has sealed teak to fibreglass as is the nature of my project. Oily woods like teak often do not adhere over the long term to many sealants. So, before I pull the trigger on this, if anyone has this specific experience I would love to hear about it. As there are something like 20+ points of failure above a lot a new cushions, electronics etc. I am taking a cautious approach.
Neil Roach
"Crewless"
1992 36, Mark I
Hull # 1174
Seattle
http://www.onboardwithmarkcorke.com/on_board/2009/03/dolphinite-bedding-...
Here's a link showing Dolfinite which I believe was the bedding compound on my Cat 30. I had taken the companionway down to refinish and found this brown putty like substance. When I bought my 36 I removed the handrails (11 years ago) and after refinishing used Dolfinite to rebed. Have not had a leak and dolfinite has the same color as teak and when it is time to take apart is still flexible.
Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine
I used silicone marine sealer before learning about the butyl tape option. The silicone has worked well, no leaks so far (after 2 seasons). That said even if the butyl does not adhere to teak, it would provide a great seal on the cabin top, the holes and around the screws so it would likely work fine in this application, but silicone is what I have direct expreience with. If you are interested here is the process I used with the silicone sealant:
-Remove the rails - Clean off all the old sealant from the cabin top and hand rails - Sand the rails and apply Cetol (including the bottom sides that contact cabin top) - Apply the silicone to the handrail - Reinstall the rails and lighty tighten them - After 24 hours fully tighten the nuts.
Michael & Jayne O'Neill * Steadfast * 1985 C36 #372 * Salem, MA
Mainsail's website (Compass Marine) lists an email address for specific questions. You might try that?
Tried to copy and paste the address, but no joy.
I would be a little nervous using silicone to seal deck hardware and the cleanup is awful.
Your boat, your choice.
Good luck.
See that the new website lost my picture. Will fix someday.
Jack Heaston
1987 C36 Mk I #692
Fin Keel, Std Rig, Rocna 15
Silent Passage, M25 XPB Repower