Hull/Deck joint re-sealing

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Oct 19, 2009
81
MacGregor 1995 26S Fort Walton Beach, FL
Bluewater Yachts no longer has these and are looking for another supplier so if anyone out there knows where I can get one, please let me know.
 
Aug 7, 2011
496
MacGregor 26S Lakeland, FL
They stopped supplying the rub rail??? I had it on my list to buy from them!! I threw away the old one (so i don't have a sample to match)!
 
Nov 23, 2011
2,023
MacGregor 26D London Ontario Canada
Okay, here's an idea I've seen comments on, and wondering if anyone can give some real-life experience on their boats...
Background:
I have recently, due to major work, separated the hull/deck joint (removed all 14,278 bolts!). The rub rail was bad, beat up, and falling off...to be replaced...so I just pulled it off and found that the PO's had goobered goopy stuff in various places under the rub rail on the joint, I'm assuming to stop leaks. So once I started looking, I thought it might be a good idea to check the whole thing out, and that's how I ended up taking all the bolts out...

Found that the oldest-looking bead of sealant in areas with no obvious goopy-goop nearby, which I'm assuming was the original from the factory, was just that, a small single bead of sealant between the deck joint, and a ball of sealant at each bolt. It did not look substantial to me, and it was dirty, dry, and I would like to replace it with something more substantial, but am not convinced (yet) that trying to put a bead of anything in there is the best way.

In my head, I'm thinking that it needs to be flexible (because the hull does flex), and thick enough that when the two flanges are pulled together it will fill up any bumps and surface irregularities (and the surfaces ARE irregular). I also think it should go for about the whole width of the two joint flanges (about 3/4" to 1" wide) so it has enough chance to seal against most of the surface.

Someone mentioned that they had found a "strip" type of seal, like weatherstripping, in that joint. The more I have thought about it, that doesn't sound like a bad way to go, and might be easier to be sure it seals. Any experience with this you can share please?
My 26D has a foam strip type seal. It doesn't work very well. It leaks.
I would use butyl tape. Easy and no mess.
I have seen links to a company on this site in some thread... They have the extrusion you need. Try a search for it here.
 
Oct 21, 2010
350
Macgregor 26S, "Myuna" Brisbane, Australia
Awesome...thanks for the link!
Not a problem vizwhiz. Once you have sorted out which profile it is, and you have it on hand. do you think you could let us all know? Also the price of same. Many thanks
 
Nov 23, 2011
2,023
MacGregor 26D London Ontario Canada
Here is a picture of inside my bow. I took it because I noticed the SS trim piece around the for-stay piece on deck was lifting off. I was concerned that things may be loose in there. There not. I am going to add a piece of 3/4" plywood and glass it in just to be sure. I'll replace the pop-rivets with bolts too.
The first pic shows the piece lifted... Also the cleat on my bow. I don't know what it is for. Or why it is there...
You will notice in the other pictures the quality workmanship with foam strip placement and resorting to using #10 SS wood screws instead of bolts.
 

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Apr 24, 2006
868
Aloha 32 Toronto, Lake Ontario
You might want to consider screws for the cover plate. With the stress on the stem head (and side stay plates), they tend to move a bit and shear the sealant. I use the size of sheet metal screw that fits the old rivet hole and don't tighten it down more than enough to leave 1/16 to 1/8 of sealant under the plate. I don't tighten it (or any screws) after the sealant sets up. Lasted five years and only took 10 minutes to reveal all of then.

Chris
 
Oct 19, 2009
81
MacGregor 1995 26S Fort Walton Beach, FL
Perhaps the cam cleat was used as a fairlead for your anchor rode. I looked at wefco rubber and couldn't find the right rub rail cross section but perhaps you'll have better luck.
-david
 
Aug 7, 2011
496
MacGregor 26S Lakeland, FL
Looking at the inside of the hull pics, you can see the roughness of the surface that is the hull-deck joint, keeping in mind that mine doesn't overlap that way, but instead the two roll out into lips that are bolted together. That rough surface is between the two and has to be sealed with something (butyl rubber soon).

Thanks for the heads-up on the rub rail. If BWYachts has stopped selling it, then maybe they'll give me their source's name and the part number or something that was used. We'll just have to see...
 
Nov 23, 2011
2,023
MacGregor 26D London Ontario Canada
Vis, try Tatoo Yachts. The kids have the molds form the 26M. I can't see them changing the rub rail. (I bet they can't find one any less $.)
http://tattooyachts.com/
They may be able to offer suggestions as to a manufacturer that was used in the past.
 
Mar 15, 2008
10
Macgregor 26D New Orleans, LA
89D Rubrail

I have an 89D model and replaced the rubrail a number of years ago. Found a super deal on ebay. My 89 is the overlapping joint, with an aluminum rail screwed in over the joint. The replacement I used was a TACO insert. Look at the highlighted on. You can get it in different colors.
 

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Aug 7, 2011
496
MacGregor 26S Lakeland, FL
Just an update...talked to BWYachts today, and they are still planning to carry the rub rail for these boats (same for S, X, and M boats). But it was a product they actually purchased from MacGregor, not separately from the same supplier. When MacY shut down, the link was broken and BWYachts is trying to get the source info from Roger. I think it will just be a matter of time and they'll have the parts they were struggling with flowing smoothly again, including the rub rail.
Alternatively, I'm sure Tattoo Yachts will be using the same rail on the new 26, at least at first, so a source will eventually materialize for BWY.
 
Aug 7, 2011
496
MacGregor 26S Lakeland, FL
Hey Chris, i'm about to do the tape, and i'm thinking that the awl poke step would be better done from the bottom rather than the top, wouldn't it? Also, probably while the two halves are apart , not after letting the two halves spring back together? What i'm seeing is that no matter how nice i try, the bolt will always extrude any tape left in the hole...
I suppose that's not necessarily a big deal since the whole gap will be sealed, and the bolt hole doesn't really need to be...
 
Nov 23, 2011
2,023
MacGregor 26D London Ontario Canada
You may want to poke something like an awl through the hole first. It will make putting the bolt through and the nuts on a little easier.
Have you thought about a product like lock-tite or similar for the nuts? Were any of them loose when you took it apart?
With that many bolts you may want to put a socket on your drill to speed things up. Then you can just put the nuts on quickly and spin them the rest of the way with the drill.
 
Oct 19, 2009
81
MacGregor 1995 26S Fort Walton Beach, FL
I sent a sample of my rubrail (see cross section image) to Wefco Rubber and Pete responded that it is item #4812 in black rubber and he sells it for $3/ft with 1 week delivery. You'll need 50 feet. You can contact him at 818-816-8872. I have not ordered it yet, but at least we have identified a source if Bluewater Yachts doesn't come through.
-david
 

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Apr 24, 2006
868
Aloha 32 Toronto, Lake Ontario
The other place to try is an auto glass dealer that also does construction equipment. I went to an Apple Auto Glass shop and looked through their books of rubber and plastic extrusions. I was after a specific window gasket that is $4 a foot at the marine dealer. I paid $1.15 per foot! The Mac rub rail is not rubber but plastic meant for outdoor/uv. It's also crucial that it has the ribs that engage the bolt heads/nuts or if wont stay put (5200 won't keep it in place either).

Chris
 
Oct 19, 2009
81
MacGregor 1995 26S Fort Walton Beach, FL
I contacted Laura MacGregor Sharp at Tattoo Yachts and she was willing to sell me a rubrail for my '95 MacGregor 26s. The cost was $2 per ft + shipping. She was very helpful and the rub rail was delivered quickly. I'm sure they are more interested in selling boats than parts but I really appreciated her effort.

She can be contacted here:
Laura MacGregor Sharp
Tattoo Yachts LLC

3419 SE Lionel Terrace
Stuart FL 34997
Tel +1 772 872 6761
Fax +1 772 872 6764
info@tattooyachts.com

www.tattooyachts.com
www.Facebook.com/TattooYachts


I have no commercial interest in Tattoo Yachts.
 

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