[C320-list] Butyl Rubber and chain plates

[Kaare Wold]

Dave, interesting thread on using butyl rubber and pictures in the link 
below
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Warren Updike" <wupdike at hotmail.com>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 3:36 PM
Subject: [C320-list] Butyl Rubber and chain plates


I have been educated as to the use of butyl rubber for bedding from Compass 
Marine (http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware) and have used 
butyl rubber on a number of bedding projects.
Recently, I had to address an inside leak from the center chain plate. I've 
wondered how I would go about using butyl rubber on chain plates.
Once I detached the shrouds and removed the deck plate, I found that the 
Polysulfide bedding in the deck was in good shape; but, the seal of the deck 
plate had failed and water was making its way down the bolts. Rather than 
removing the bedding, I cleaned up the deck, chamfered bolt holes, and 
bolts. Following info from the above link, I prepared the deck plate and 
bolts with butyl rubber and reassembled the chain plate. (Hold the bolts 
from turning when reassembling.) We since have had a rather heavy rain and 
no more leaking.
As for the bedding itself, I can see no practical way of replacing the 
bedding with butyl rubber, as whatever you use has to flow to conform to the 
space. With a proper seal on the deck plate, I see no way for water to get 
into the bedding in the first place.
If anyone has experience with this or would like to comment, bring it on.

Warren and Pattie Updike
1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
Middle River, Chesapeake Bay