Stanchion Base Pads - re-bedding job

[dantaden]

Looking for some advise, suggestions and recommendations.

Currently in the process of removing and rebedding all deck hardware. The stanchion bases and deck cleats currently sit on Teak pads attached to the fibreglass side decks. The teak pads range in thickness from 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches. The prupose of the teak pad is to provide appropriate angle and heighth for stanchions and other side deck fittings.

I am looking for alternative solution to the teak pads, something low maintenance. Perhaps plastic, acrylic, starboard, or fabricated fibreglass pads or other.

With your material recommendation can you alos suggest the sealant you experienced works best.

Thanks

[CaptainForce]

many won't like my answer because they hate 5200, thinking that it's difficult to remove or because they despise starboard plastic because nothing will stick to it. I have great success with starboard (I use black) that is bedded to my deck with 3M 5200.. Where I place a bolt through my balsa cored deck or any fastener, I first grind out the balsa and work with a fully epoxied deck mounting. I easily form my mounting pad from starboard, probably two layers in your 1&1/2 inch case, and place my hardware on top of the starboard. When I position the structure over the 5200 bedding compound I only lightly tighten the fasteners and let the compound cure for more than 24 hours so I'm not squeezing it all out with the initial application. I most often have an aluminum back up plate on the under side of the deck or large fender washers for each fastener. If I decide to remove this assembly in the future, I can always lift the starboard and slide a chisel under the 5200. If I've used the 5200 with a material that it adheres to more vigorously, I can always run a wire under the deck hardware,- I've even used dental floss with success.




Even my former teak hand rails and companionway tracks are now starboard plastic. 'take care and joy, Aythya crew

[mitiempo]

One alternative is to cast epoxy bases to the deck at the correct angle. The link is West's fiberglass repair manual. Casting hardware bases is on page 52 but the whole manual is informative and a free download.
http://www.westsystem.com/ss/assets/...aintenance.pdf

[dantaden]

Thanks you for your replies. As it is always difficult getting to the fittings from under the deck, I prefer somewhat of a prema-fix, if there's such a thing. I found a local retailer specializing is fibreglass fabricating that will provide his unused sheets - ~ 3/16 thick. I'll cut these to size and layer to give me the depth I need for each fitting - using the West Systems instructions.

A little more upfront work than expected and I'm hoping for many years of leak free fittings.

If you have more to add please advise and thanks again.

[mitiempo]

Make sure you pot the holes in the deck with thickened epoxy if your deck is cored as mast are.