Bedding Port Lights with Butyl Tape (MainSail) method

[Hermit Scott]

I went to the boat this weekend. I was going alone to do some gunkholing but Jeannette decided to go, so that meant daysailing and boat repair.
To my shame I haven't yet rebedded the two port lights I have left. I put (high quality) duct tape over one and the other is over a sink, so not that big a deal, and it is in the head so ventilation is essential there. SO anyway....
I bought butyl tape, razors and some brake cleaner. I was going to rebed the portlights but it literally rained all weekend. Not a minute break in the rain. I had to build two gutters draining into a large cooler for the two leaking portlights. I left it like that until the rain lets up.
I read up on MaineSails method of bedding with butyl tape. The ports I am bedding are different than the ones he documented on his site. The ports I have install from the outside and have a backing plate that pulls the port to the fiberglass. It appears that the port is flat where it mates to the fiberglass. There are no holes to countersink and I think that chamfering the fiberglass won't help to seal anything. (is this the case or should the port hole always be chamfered?)
MS used 3M sealant around the outtermost edge of the face plate on the outside. Should I use sealant around the outside of the port before I install it? Will the butyl tape start to degrade from the outside edge if I don't have something to protect it? Please give me a little help so I know these won't leak through the butyl.

 

[Maine Sail]

I went to the boat this weekend. I was going alone to do some gunkholing but Jeannette decided to go, so that meant daysailing and boat repair.
To my shame I haven't yet rebedded the two port lights I have left. I put (high quality) duct tape over one and the other is over a sink, so not that big a deal, and it is in the head so ventilation is essential there. SO anyway....
I bought butyl tape, razors and some brake cleaner. I was going to rebed the portlights but it literally rained all weekend. Not a minute break in the rain. I had to build two gutters draining into a large cooler for the two leaking portlights. I left it like that until the rain lets up.
I read up on MaineSails method of bedding with butyl tape. The ports I am bedding are different than the ones he documented on his site. The ports I have install from the outside and have a backing plate that pulls the port to the fiberglass. It appears that the port is flat where it mates to the fiberglass. There are no holes to countersink and I think that chamfering the fiberglass won't help to seal anything. (is this the case or should the port hole always be chamfered?)
MS used 3M sealant around the outtermost edge of the face plate on the outside. Should I use sealant around the outside of the port before I install it? Will the butyl tape start to degrade from the outside edge if I don't have something to protect it? Please give me a little help so I know these won't leak through the butyl.

Those directions are fairly specific to the New Found Metals ports only. I only used a sealant because I could not find a source of that diameter Butyl tape in gray, only black. I put the sealant there because I did not want the black butyl all the way to the edge & visible. If I had gray colored butyl, in the size I needed, I would not have used the 3M 101.

If there are no external screw holes then a thickness of buytl tape just a tad thicker than the frame will seal it once compressed. Tighten it slowly and let the butyl compress and make a seal and you should be fine. My ports seal in two places, around the frame and around the spigot. If your only seal around the frame it makes it much easier. You should have no need to chamfer the edges.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Thank you for replying so quickly. The butyl I bought was black and that was the only option at autozone. Is the butyl you are going to package and sell going to be available in white?

 

[Maine Sail]

Thank you for replying so quickly. The butyl I bought was black and that was the only option at autozone. Is the butyl you are going to package and sell going to be available in white?

It's gray only. The good stuff is not made in white that I have been able to find. White I found out is mostly low grade RV/roof seam stuff and unless you want to run 250,000 feet they won't make it either...

Bed-It Butyl Tape

 

[Hermit Scott]

My wife took a pic of the port today. I am sure you have seen these before.
Grey would be better than black. I will order some when you get your packaging finished.

 

[Maine Sail]

My wife took a pic of the port today. I am sure you have seen these before.
Grey would be better than black. I will order some when you get your packaging finished.

It is ready to go. I shipped some out Sat and some more will go tomorrow morning. I am not doing packaging for now, just sliding into a ziplock gallon bag and shipping it in a USPS flat rate medium box. No need to add to the price. It is what it is and does not really need any fancy packaging for now. The quotes I got were rather offensive..

 

[sailormanbigd]

Butyl Tape

Hi Maine,
I caught some of your previous post on the tape. How do I go about purchasing some? thought it would be good to have some around. How is the shelflife ? I know if you researched it that it is quality marine product. Pat

 

[Maine Sail]

Hi Maine,
I caught some of your previous post on the tape. How do I go about purchasing some? thought it would be good to have some around. How is the shelflife ? I know if you researched it that it is quality marine product. Pat

Pat,

The shelf life, as stated by the manufacturer, is 1 year minimum. However, I have two rolls left over from a case I bought back in 98 or 99 and I still use it with no issues. The only change I have noted is that when hot it tends to stick to the wax paper a little more than it did 6+ years ago. My ad is in the Classified Ads section (LINK).

 

[woodster]

Hi Maine,
I caught some of your previous post on the tape. How do I go about purchasing some? thought it would be good to have some around. How is the shelflife ? I know if you researched it that it is quality marine product. Pat

i am not Maine but if you look in the classified ads on this site you will find how to order it ......


regards

woody

 

[catsailor]

Pat,

The shelf life, as stated by the manufacturer, is 1 year minimum. However, I have two rolls left over from a case I bought back in 98 or 99 and I still use it with no issues. The only change I have noted is that when hot it tends to stick to the wax paper a little more than it did 6+ years ago. My ad is in the Classified Ads section (LINK).

Consider padded envelopes and a google "buy-it-now" button on a blog. That is how I sell some books (another labor of love) and it works well. The link to my blog is below.

 

[Hermit Scott]

It is ready to go. I shipped some out Sat and some more will go tomorrow morning. I am not doing packaging for now, just sliding into a ziplock gallon bag and shipping it in a USPS flat rate medium box. No need to add to the price. It is what it is and does not really need any fancy packaging for now. The quotes I got were rather offensive..

A printed label stuck to the outside of the ziplock would be more than sufficient for 'packaging'.
Personally I'd rather not pay for a label as a consumer. But maybe having your website telling people to go there to learn how to use the butyl.
If it was in a cardboard box with a label on it. I could see it sitting in the marine store for $49.95.
I am glad I didn't use this stuff I bought from autozone. I will take it back. I sent you a payment via paypal.

 

[Steve Dion]

MaineSail:

We got our Butyl (stuffthatbedsyourhardwareorwhateveryoudecidetocallit) tape today. They are good sizeable rolls weighing in at 1#3oz per roll & 8" diameter.

Those boxes should work out perfectly. I suggest that you keep up your subscription to the Portland Press Hearld & the Sunday Telegram if you are going to be stuff those boxes.

That was great service. Maine to Nevada in 3 days. You will probably get slightly better service to larger cities.

 

[BobM]

Mainesail's biggest contribution

Just think fellow sailors...Mainesail's promotion of butyl tape may mean the next generation of sailors has less soggy core to deal with...now if we can only find the time to maintain our boats better!

 

[Clark]

Just think fellow sailors...Mainesail's promotion of butyl tape may mean the next generation of sailors has less soggy core to deal with...now if we can only find the time to maintain our boats better!

True. As Mr. Nightlinger said "I have the inclination . .and I have the wherewithall. . . but unfortunately (madam) I do not have the time"

 

[Hermit Scott]

I got it today. I can see why this is better than the windshield butyl. The winshield butyl is a 3/8" round. This stuff is rolled thin and flat, less to squeeze out and clean up, like it was made for bedding things on a boat.