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

[P.F. Ross]

Yes, Dave, great job describing a task I will need to do soon.

Were you able to countersink the deck holes to allow extra butyl tape to
flow around the bolts?  Sounds like things are really tight, so there may
not be room.

For those not familiar, here is a link to how butyl tape may be used on
deck hardware:

https://marinehowto.com/bed-it-tape/

Rod Collins, the owner of this site, has unfortunately suffered from health
problems but keeps his site going.  I also recommend the "Bed It" tape that
is linked on his site after trying several other brands.

Frank Ross
Beta Wave #206
Naples, FL

On Tue, Mar 26, 2024 at 8:38 AM Phil Hansen via C320-list <
c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:

>  Wow -- thanks for the detailed explanation --Definitely a 2-person job.
>     On Monday, March 25, 2024 at 07:36:38 PM CDT, Dave Hupe via C320-list <
> c320-list at lists.catalina320.com> wrote:
>
>  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?
>
>
>