Travelers

[Freesail99]

My travelers leak very bad. I am going to be rebedding all my deck fittings. I also plan on filling all the holes with epoxy and re drilling them out. But a friend who helps me work on my boat made a suggestion and I am asking what you think. He suggested in doing all that you would nomally do to rebed the deck fittings but going one step futher. He said, why not use a rubber membraine ? Like a ice & water shield used on a roof. Any thoughts ?

[sevseasail]

I always thought it was a good idea. I can't wait to see what the experts have to say on the subject.

[Faster]

Originally Posted by Freesail99

My travelers leak very bad. I am going to be rebedding all my deck fittings. I also plan on filling all the holes with epoxy and re drilling them out.

Before you fill the old holes you should drill them out to a larger size. Then fill with thickened epoxy and redrill the original size. This way you get a solid epoxy bushing around the fastener, reducing the chances of any moisture into the core.

As far as the membrane/gasket idea, it's not usually done, uses more sealant because you have two mating surface areas now, but probably won't hurt. Not sure you'd gain much, though.

[Freesail99]

I had planned on opening up the holes a bit, using the alan key trick on a drill. As far as the membraine is concerned water is coming in from somewhere. Water can't pass thur the rubber. The PO clauked everywhere, I guess trying to stop the water.

[sailingdog]

If you've properly potted the holes, then the water coming in is a nuisance, but not a major threat...

One thing that can help to really keep the holes from leaking is after you've potted them and let the thickened epoxy dry, and drilled the holes for the fasteners...go back over then holes with a countersink bit, and use it to chamfer the edges of the hole on all of them.

Then, when you add the sealant, it will have a space to form an o-ring seal of sorts and that can help make the seal much better, even if you snugged the traveler track down so hard that it has squeezed out most of the sealant, a bit will remain in the countersunk areas...

[tenuki]

ooh, good trick saildog, thanks!

[sailingdog]

Anytime tenuki...

[Guesser]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

If you've properly potted the holes, then the water coming in is a nuisance, but not a major threat...

One thing that can help to really keep the holes from leaking is after you've potted them and let the thickened epoxy dry, and drilled the holes for the fasteners...go back over then holes with a countersink bit, and use it to chamfer the edges of the hole on all of them.

Then, when you add the sealant, it will have a space to form an o-ring seal of sorts and that can help make the seal much better, even if you snugged the traveler track down so hard that it has squeezed out most of the sealant, a bit will remain in the countersunk areas...

I like that countersink trick a lot.

[sailingdog]

Unfortunately, I can't take credit for it... a friend of mine showed that trick to me when I was working as grunt labor on a toerail, cockpit coaming, and handrail re-fit on her father's boat... He's been sailing since Noah was around I think...