Mast pulpits

[brokesailor]

The mast pulpits on my boat were removed during transport over land. When removed the gelcoat was ripped off under the posts so you can see the deck fiberglass. I am reinstalling the pulpits, I am planning on using Mainsail's butyl tape. Is there anything else I should do? Also the hardware holes were filled in with some kind of sealant (I hope it wasn't 5200!) Should I just redrill the holes?

[Minnewaska]

If in doubt, I would aggressively get all the old sealant out, fill the hole entirely with epoxy, then redrill the holes. If the broken gel coat is under the base, I would just cover that with epoxy as well. If you will see it, it will require a real repair.

[AirborneSF]

Where in Solomons are you? I'd like to swing by and look at it, if you don't mind. Thanks.

[brokesailor]

Spring Cove Marina BT-1 It's a yawl.

[mitiempo]

There is a good chance the original sealant(adhesive!) was 5200 as I don't think many others will pull gelcoat off.
Remove all sealant, overdrill if there is a core, fill with thickened epoxy including the area the gelcoat came off and then redrill.

[AirborneSF]

Great thanks.

[brokesailor]

mitiempo: Do I use one of those wire wheels on a drill to get the stuff off? If I put epoxy on deck wouldn't that interfere with the mast pulpit footing?

[BMLipiec]

Brokesailor,
We swapped places with similar boats. We just moved our Pacific Seacraft 34, last summer, from Spring Cove Marina to San Diego, and we used Lewis Trucking as well. Our boat arrived undamaged but was extremely dirty - the oil spots on the gel coat were the worse. We found Bio-Solve (after trying a dozen different products), a bio-degradable acetone replacement, to work very well in removing the spots.

[mitiempo]

If the area the gelcoat came off will be hidden under the pulpit base I would remove as much as I could with a chisel. Any that remains can be removed with a sanding drum on a Dremel or wire wheel. The holes can be overdrilled through the deck skin and core, but not through the bottom skin.

If the damaged section will show after the pulpit is installed you will have to match the deck finish. Other than that the epoxy will have no effect on mounting the pulpit - all you are doing is filling the gap in the gelcoat with it.

[brokesailor]

Small Crealock world BM. There was a PSC 34, Green Heron, next door at the hotel marina that was for sale seemed like forever that suddenly sold last fall. I never got a chance to get a look inside-lazy broker-and my wife was anti 34's.