Sealing a rubber washer for centerboard bolt

[barney17]

I just replaced the pivot bolt for my centerboard (I have a 17' sailing dinghy), and I put new neoprene washers on both sides of the bolt, and I'm still getting a little water leaking in. How do I seal it? Would 3M 4200 work on the neoprene?

 

[higgs]

I would think any below the waterline sealant would work. All you can do is give it a try.

 

[Project_Mayhem]

4200 would be my first choice. LocTite sells a knockoff of 4200 in a caulk tube that's stood the test of time

 

[dlochner]

It would be helpful to see a photo or two of the problem area. Is the pivot bolt intended to be fixed, i.e., not rotating? Is it above the waterline or below?

Soft washers made from rubber, nitrile or some other rubbery material will deform and leak if tightened too much. Adding an sealant/adhesive like 4200 might work if the bolt doesn't rotate, however as soon as it rotates it will break the seal and leak again.

 

[PaulK]

Perhaps a different kind of rubber would work better. I have rubber washers on my 505 centerboard without any sealant. Snugged down nicely they don't leak. Can't tell you what kind of rubber they are though.

 

[jssailem]

I do not know the details of the Barnegat 17. There have been many dinghy daysailers built through the years. In the late 60s and 70s, it was a popular boat to build and sail. The Barnegat 17 was a class boat when used for racing. There were rules that, when followed, allowed the boat to participate in class races.

Here is a link to the class race rules.

https://www.bbyraarchive.org/doc/HistoricFleets/Barnegat-17-Class.pdf

Of note was the following regarding the centerboard and trunk:

The bottom, top, and forward edges of the board shall be straight, and the after edge shall be an arc of a circle. ,​

​

(3) Centerboard pin shall be 3/8" in diameter,​

​

(4) The centerboard may not be lowered to allow the upper edge of the centerboard to be lower than the height of the trunk cap. A stop on the centerboard must be affixed to ensure this.​

​

(5) Centerboard flaps or gaskets shall not be permitted owner to race the boat in class races. ​

​

If racing is not in your future, then you are able to create just about anything you desire to make your boat sail the way you desire. It would help us creative boat owners who work on older boats, to see some images of the problem you have and how you have tried to resolve it.

​

 

[Project_Mayhem]

I would be concerned that many types of rubber would dry out after a few years

(5) Centerboard flaps or gaskets shall not be permitted owner to race the boat in class races. If racing is not in your future, then you are able to create just about anything you desire to make your boat sail the way you desire. It would help us creative boat owners who work on older boats, to see some images of the problem you have and how you have tried to resolve it.

Perhaps the rules are referring to a seal/flap where the hull meets the trunk? My 420 had that. I kept splashing to a minimum and reduced drag