bedding the bow rails

[pugtug613]

Has anyone bedded the bow rails? We have a leak that looks like it lines up with one of the stations. It appears to me that there is no bedding compound under the stations. I figure you just unscrew the overhead panels in the Vee Birth and have access to the nuts, assuming they are through bolted. I did it on my sail boat. I put blue tape around the foot and the fiberglass before I remove them. Then I slice, with a razor, around the foot. Unscrew the bolts, lift it off and put some 4200 at each station. Then I snug them up, not real tight. The next day, I give it a 1/4 turn each and run the razor blade around the foot. Remove the tape and excess 4200 and you are done. Sounds easy enough! Yeah right. Not impossible, it will depend on the access to the nuts.

 

[Knot In Court]

I had a similar leak and it turned out to be from the rub rail. When they installed the rub rail they drilled a hole and striped out the screw. They then drilled a new hole, tightened the new screw but never caulked the hole from the first one. The headliner can be removed relatively easily allowing access to the area behind the rub rail. I applied epoxy into and over the hole and have never had a leak since. Good luck.

 

[knotflying]

You may want to try butyl tape instead of caulking on the rails. Items that may have flex from use will hold a better seal with the tape. If not the tape perhaps Lifeseal. 4200 although not as permanent as 5200 may still be too permanent and not as flexible.

 

[Cruzerboy]

Here's a great article on bedding deck fittings with butyl tape: (I can't seem to copy and paste here, but you can access the article if you google re-bedding deck hardware butyl tape.)

Tom Ahlers
Life Savor
Seattle

 

[SGIDAVE]

Here's a great article on bedding deck fittings with butyl tape: (I can't seem to copy and paste here, but you can access the article if you google re-bedding deck hardware butyl tape.)

Tom Ahlers
Life Savor
Seattle

Here you go! This is an EXCELLENT tutorial. Don't forget to CHAMFER! 😉

dave