Moving on to Winches...

[GorillaToast]

...as the next step in my deck re-bedding project. I am adding teak risers, and bedding everything with the same grey butyl tape I've been using on all the deck hdw.

When I removed the winches, there was a ping-pong ball sized glob of silicone up inside the winch base. I obviously removed it and sanded/washed away all traces of the silicone on the coaming, but do I need to fill that cavity with silicone when I reinstall? I'm concerned about the incomapability of silicon and butyl tape. Is it just that butyl won't stick to surfaces with silicone on them, or does the proximity of butyl to silicone affect its sealing?

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Ken]

that's strange.... I've taken off several and have never found anything like that inside them. The Harken's I replaced the Arco's have groves that allow any water to escape should it get in....

 

[GorillaToast]

Hi Ken.

Well, the PO must've done it. I've got the original Arco's, and don't see a need to replace them - they do the job.

If they didn't come from the factory with that glob of silicone, I'm certainly not going to add one. Butyl under the teak pad, and under the composite winch base (as well as around the bolts) should do the trick.

Thanks.

 

[Joe]

Nix the silicone.