Cabin top winch removal

[Klaatu]

I have a leak around the bolts that secure a Lewmar 6 winch mounted on my cabin roof. I planned to remove the winch, clean the area and put down a bed of 1/8 butyl tape. However, after removing the bolts I find that the winch appears to be glued to the surface and I attempted to pry the winch loose without success. I simply put a bead of butyl tape around the bolt heads and re-attached.

What is the recommended solution?

[mitiempo]

It may have been bedded with 5200 which is too agressive a sealant to use. Sometimes you can take a piano wire and saw through the sealant to remove the hardware. The best way to solve the leaking is to remove the winch and rebed properly.

[GraemeInCanada]

I agree here, no matter what you should get it off, clean it thoroughly and then bed it properly. That's what I did and while it was a pain to get off (I don't think as much as yours will be), it was well worth the piece of mind that it's been done right and good for a long time.

[Capnblu]

ya get yourself a piano wire, and wrap it around 2 sticks and pull. Should slice through, apply more muscle if necessary! Grunting seems to help... but nothing beats poor prior installation.