"...First though make sure the hardware is clean, Acetone works well, but if Silicone was previously used you'll really want abrasives as Acetone won't touch dry silicone contamination..."
Thanks for this "Sticky" Maine Sail. I order your butyl tape, and am now in the process of removing hardware to re-bed.
On my Catalina 22, the gudgeons and bilge pump thru-hull were previously bedded with silicone. I removed it all, and per your advice, wet sanded the gel coat where the fittings were, then rinsed with acetone. I took all of the fasteners and soaked them for a couple of hours in mineral spirits, then used a wire brush to clean the remaining visible silicone off.
Paying close attention to your warnings about silicone residue, I'm wondering what else I need to do to the fasteners, in particular the bolts, to ensure that ALL the nasty stuff is removed. It seems pretty impractical to wet sand the thread spirals.
Also, do I need to use acetone after the MS to remove its residue?