[C320-list] Fixing Genoa/Jib Car Track Leaks

[Dave Hupe]

Phil - I pulled up my starboard track twice (not fun)  to stop leakage. Both times I used butyl tape. The first time it didn't work well because outside temperature was very hot and I had trouble placing the butyl. It stuck to my fingers but not as well to the track surface I was trying to place it on. So, I didn't get it placed well and leaks reappeared. The second time I did it in cooler weather and while my boat was on the hard. It went much better and seems ok.
I pulled the track completely off and cleaned the boat surface and track base very well. Most of the mount hardware are thrubolts with capnuts inside.  But at least one bolt threads into a plate impeded in the fiberglass.  Keep track of which bolts go with each hole and which is the one that doesn't thrubolt.
I laid the track (upside down) on a table and first taped the entire length of the track with butyl tape. I then carefully cut open the mount holes with an exacto blade. Then I poked all the mount bolts up from underneath (with a slather of butyl on the shank of each bolt just under the head for a seal).  I also rolled butyl tape and placed a "donut" of butyl around each bolt shank where it protruded out the bottom of the track. Note .... there is very little mount surface on the bottom of the track to create a seal!! So, these "donuts" on each bolt on the track bottom are very important to try to seal each track mount hole as the butyl gets squeezed during mounting.
With help, I carried the prepared track (upside down ... the butyl donuts kept the bolts from falling out) up onto the boat and tilted it over carefully .... slowly lining up each bolt with the mount holes. Then I pushed (not threaded) all the bolts simultaneously straight down into the mount holes. This was in order to not rip/disrupt the butyl.  I had someone on top holding the bolts (Philip head) so they didn't turn while I put nuts on each underneath. As a team, my helper on top kept the bolts from turning (so as not to break any seals on the bolt shanks) as I sequentially tightened nuts underneath. We did this gradually ... working up and down the track. The only bolt(s) that needed tightened from above were those that thread directly into threaded plates in the fiberglass.
Lastly, I carefully trimmed excess, squeezed out butyl from around the track. It is very important to trim it but don't pull any out from underneath the track because the mounting surface is so minimal. 
Dave Hupe
1994 C320 #32
Holland, MI
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer 
 
  On Sun, Mar 24, 2024 at 9:04 PM, Phil Hansen via C320-list<c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:    How did you stop the jib car trac leaks?
Take up and re-bed or creaping crack cure?