Bedding Sealed Teak Toerail to Fiberglass. Is Butyl the Answer?

[SimianD’Amour]

Hi, I’ve been reading up on what material to use to re-bed the teak toe rail to the deck of my early 70’s Islander MK II. I’ve removed the toerail and am coating the entire piece with varnish.

There is a great article by a fellow on this site about using butyl and chamfering holes.
After reading this I am inclined to go this route with the toerail. Only hesitation I have is I have seen something about butyl affecting teak somehow... leaching out the oils?

The other current option I see is Life Caulk. Polysulfide and not Polyurethane.

Any suggestions from people who have done this or have had it done?

Thanks!
Karl

 

[JRT]

I just re-bed my new toe rails with butyl tape. Not sure I heard anything about 'leaching out the oils' but mine are brand new wood as the old ones all fell apart. My process was,

1) Epoxy seal old holes, my rails are screwed down, no way to get a backing plate on the back side.
2) I drilled pilot holes in the deck with the new screw locations on the toe rails and made sure to use new deck areas.
3) I replaced all the screws with new stainless steel screws that would give me 3/4" penetration into the deck
4) then used butyl wrapped around the head of each screws, a flat section between the toe rail and deck at each screw location and I actually inserted butyl tape into the deck holes also.

So far this seems to be working, my leaks seem to be gone now and time will tell how it holds up.

 

[SimianD’Amour]

I think I got the effect backwards. Sounds like the teak leaches oil from butyl-drying it out overt time.
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/butyl-tape-to-rebed-teak-toe-rail.172154/

 

[Maine Sail]

I think I got the effect backwards. Sounds like the teak leaches oil from butyl-drying it out overt time.
https://forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/butyl-tape-to-rebed-teak-toe-rail.172154/

No the reason for coating both sides of the wood is to keep it sealed from humidity/moisture getting in and lifting the varnish. Bed-It Tape will not be dried out by contact with teak and will not harm varnish. Other tapes may do this but Bed-It Tape does not...

 

[SimianD’Amour]

Maine Sail, are you connected with this site?
https://marinehowto.com/category/hardware/

All that makes sense, though...

Very good idea coating in epoxy before hand but have already committed to coating 360 with thin and progressively thicker coats of varnish. I’m sure it will be fine for my needs. If no issue with the “bed it” tape and teak I think I’ll go down this route. Makes a lot of sense especially with the chamfering. Little chance for sections around the fastener to have sealant squeezed out.

I appreciate you guys having taken the time to weigh in.

 

[Fred Villiard]

He is that site

 

[SimianD’Amour]

Roger that.
Ordered up some of that butyl from him.