jungpeter
Guru
A mild note of caution regarding the use of butyl tape. I attempted to re-bed some stanchion bases this winter using butyl tape. After cleaning all vestiges of previously-applied sealant (3M 4200? who knows, but at least it wasn't silicon) off the stanchion bases, and mildly countersinking each screw hole in the gelcoat below the stanchion bases to provide a proper sealing "o-ring" for the tape, I dutifully applied the tape as recommended by Compass Marine. Next, I screwed the bases down, and applied "moderate" torque to seat the bases. Yup, as advertised, the butyl tape squeezed out around the perimeter of the bases (to some extent), and from under the screw heads. And cleanup was straight forward.
But....the bases would not seat properly. The tape was too stiff, as the temperature at the time was simply too cold (~35 deg F). OK, I'll hit the stanchion bases with a heat gun. Oops-careful! Don't want to scorch the gelcoat. Arrrrggg, stainless steel conducts heat poorly, so getting the tape soft post-application was a non-starter. No problem, says I. I'll simply wait until it warms up, and re-torque the screws. Well, after approximately two months of cold, wet weather this winter, I simply gave up (I did want to use the boat, after all). I removed the stanchions yet again, cleaned off the butyl tape, and re-bedded with 3M 4200. One shot deal, bases bedded properly in place, squeeze out cleaned easily with MEK, easy-peasy. 3M 4200 cured within 24 hours, even in cold and wet conditions, no leaks, works good, lasts long time.
So, my conclusion is that, although the butyl tape is theoretically ideal for bedding deck fittings, it's not a cure-all, nor as simple to use as advertised by Compass Marine and others, at least in cooler months of the year. And, as with the vast majority of the previous posters in this thread, I refuse to allow silicon seal anywhere near my boat. Both 3M 4000 and 4200 (but not 5200) work just fine for me.
Regards,
Pete
But....the bases would not seat properly. The tape was too stiff, as the temperature at the time was simply too cold (~35 deg F). OK, I'll hit the stanchion bases with a heat gun. Oops-careful! Don't want to scorch the gelcoat. Arrrrggg, stainless steel conducts heat poorly, so getting the tape soft post-application was a non-starter. No problem, says I. I'll simply wait until it warms up, and re-torque the screws. Well, after approximately two months of cold, wet weather this winter, I simply gave up (I did want to use the boat, after all). I removed the stanchions yet again, cleaned off the butyl tape, and re-bedded with 3M 4200. One shot deal, bases bedded properly in place, squeeze out cleaned easily with MEK, easy-peasy. 3M 4200 cured within 24 hours, even in cold and wet conditions, no leaks, works good, lasts long time.
So, my conclusion is that, although the butyl tape is theoretically ideal for bedding deck fittings, it's not a cure-all, nor as simple to use as advertised by Compass Marine and others, at least in cooler months of the year. And, as with the vast majority of the previous posters in this thread, I refuse to allow silicon seal anywhere near my boat. Both 3M 4000 and 4200 (but not 5200) work just fine for me.
Regards,
Pete