I've made a start on eliminating drips.. I suspect this will be a little like painting the Forth Bridge.. never ending... but you have to start somewhere..
A couple of months ago, I read a very (very) interesting article on one of the sailing web sites about using butyl tape as a sealing mechanism ...
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware [clicky]
In summary, don't use silicon sealants to set deck fittings as the silicon is a major pain to clean at a later date, and is also really messy.. he recommended using butyl tape (used in the glazing industry) so I went and bought myself some from eBay.. £5 got me 12 metres tape, which I can only describe as being like a sticky, extra thick blue tac...
Having read the article a couple of times I thought I'd start with a deck fitting I know is leaking, a cleat on the cabin top...
One layer of tape across the bottom of the fitting, well wrapped around the bolts - pushed into place - screw driver to hold the bolts while I tightened them from the inside... as you tighten it down the butyl squeezes into every hole...
I know this was working, as the butyl was coming through above the nut..
Cleaned up and we were done... fairly confidant the job's a good'un... and the tape is very easy to use..
No mess, no sticky fingers, no smell.. recommended...
A couple of months ago, I read a very (very) interesting article on one of the sailing web sites about using butyl tape as a sealing mechanism ...
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware [clicky]
In summary, don't use silicon sealants to set deck fittings as the silicon is a major pain to clean at a later date, and is also really messy.. he recommended using butyl tape (used in the glazing industry) so I went and bought myself some from eBay.. £5 got me 12 metres tape, which I can only describe as being like a sticky, extra thick blue tac...
Having read the article a couple of times I thought I'd start with a deck fitting I know is leaking, a cleat on the cabin top...
One layer of tape across the bottom of the fitting, well wrapped around the bolts - pushed into place - screw driver to hold the bolts while I tightened them from the inside... as you tighten it down the butyl squeezes into every hole...
I know this was working, as the butyl was coming through above the nut..
Cleaned up and we were done... fairly confidant the job's a good'un... and the tape is very easy to use..
No mess, no sticky fingers, no smell.. recommended...
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