Hi, everyone.
I've been reading and preparing to re-bed my chainplates.
Maine Sail has a great article about how to re-bed most deck fittings here:
[url]http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware[/url]
...and this has worked great for most my small round deck fitting holes, but I can't yet see how to make it work for these relatively large rectangular chainplate holes.
After reaming out an appropriate amount of core around the hole, if I simply tape the bottom of the hole and pour gobs of epoxy into the hole to fill it, I would then have to cut away most of the epoxy. Seems like such a waste.
So I was wondering if any of you have ever done this and how you did it.
—
Ben Ethridge
Miami, FL
1984 MK1 Hull# 263
I have used thickend epoxy (like Marine Tex) applied with a putty knife and flat bladed screwdriver to force it into the core. But I don't think it's nearly as good a solution as enlarging the hole, filling it, and recutting the hole entirely within the hardened epoxy. That said, I used the 1st method many years ago, and to date, have not had a problem. But I don't feel like it guarantees a waterproof hole in the deck. For bolt holes, like stancion bases, it's much easier, as you can fill the hole and redrill it fairly easily (brad point bits help keep the hole centered). cutting new holes for the chainplates is a bit more difficult.
Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay
Ben,
Re-dressing the holes is a separate step from bedding the chainplates with butyl. My holes were fine, here's how I did the chainplates:
[url]http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,7265.0.html[/url]
The link includes discussions of dressing the holes. Until you remove one, you won't know what condition the deck is in. If they're fine, then you either just wipe some epoxy on the face of the hole(s) or not bother.
Since you are already familiar with Maine Sail's website, how about this:
[url]http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/sealing_the_deck[/url]
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
Thanks, Stu. Yes, I had read both of MaineSail's excellent articles and use the technique on my boat. However....
[QUOTE=stu jackson c34;20460]
... just wipe some epoxy on the face of the hole(s)
[/QUOTE]
I was thinking it would just dribble down the face of the core and pool at the bottom (where I will have taped it). The epoxy stays up there on the vertical side enough to form a good seal?
Ben Ethridge
Miami, FL
1984 MK1 Hull# 263
When I did mine I sealed off the bottom of the holes with some sheet plastic held in place by a piece of plywood that had a 2X2 wedged up into it from below. Then I made another form out of flexible sheet plastic that basically formed an oval when put into the chainplate hole, that created a dam around the sides of the holes. I then poured thickened epoxy in between the dam and the deck. Still had to cut/grind the epoxy back in places but not a lot. It was a few years ago but I think I stuffed some rags inside the oval piece to keep it a bit snug against the outside of the holes. The plastic was from used margarine/yogurt tubs and lids. The core had been ground out before doing this.