Loved this article. He never does address if it is suggested for chainplates. I am fixing a leaking chainplate and deck drains on my 1984 Hunter 27 and am thinking about taking back my 4200 and using butyl tape. The deck drains are already tapered. What about thru hulls?? Butyl tape a good application here? Or is it more for fixed items that tend to have pressure on them like stanchions and cleats???Frosty, I don't have a Catalina but the process is pretty much the same for most boats. Pull the chainplate, check the core for any wetness (the wood between the fiberglass, if there is any wet wood or rot let it dry completely, scrape any rot out, add not thickened epoxy to the good dry wood, the fill any void with thickened epoxy and chopped mat. If no void just seal the core with epoxy to protect it from rot down the road. Butyl tape is recommended for any secured hardware (link below), or polysulfide (Lifecaulk), or 3m 4000. ( no silicone!)
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/butyl_tape. Where to buy the good stuff
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware. The how to article
You can read more in this forum under Musings with MaineSail. SC
Bigjer,Bigjer40 said:Loved this article. He never does address if it is suggested for chainplates. I am fixing a leaking chainplate and deck drains on my 1984 Hunter 27 and am thinking about taking back my 4200 and using butyl tape. The deck drains are already tapered. What about thru hulls?? Butyl tape a good application here? Or is it more for fixed items that tend to have pressure on them like stanchions and cleats???