MacGregorSailors.com

Hey guys, I've read all i could find about the subject, but i still have a few questions.
1) When rebedding items that DO NOT go through cored areas, should i still use over sized drill and fill with epoxy? Or will a good backing plate and butyl tape suffice?
2) I've decided to use butyl tape for all my bedding needs, and alot of my bolt holes are small enough that the threads are actually screwing in. Shouldn't i enlarge these enough so that the bolts can be pushed straight through and then all the tightening on the nut only?
3) My winches are completely full of crud, after cleaning then, what type of grease should they be packed with?
4)I've removed all my windows to rebuild with new plexi and seals. I plan on painting the outside and inside trim, should i also clear coat non visible pieces like the inside lip that the butyl will be sealing against?
5) Where hardware attaches to non skid surfaces, should i grind and/or sand the surfaces flat before mounting?

Oh, and by the way, you can call me Joe.... I been lurking around in here for a week. I have learned ALOT! I have a 1977 Mac 25 ( a Venture...correct?). It is my first sailboat, I have never sailed. Oneida Lake, New York will be her home. If any of you are also on this lake, could you give me some idea of costs for a slip, both with and without power. Also, which marinas would you reccomend. My last boat was docked at Boats-A-Float in Bridgeport. I don't recall ever seeing a sailboat there. I like the marina alot, but it doesn't offer the quickest access to deep water. Is this why most sailboats seem to dock nearer the Eastern end of lake?


Any and all help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance, Joe.

Hello Joe from a fellow upstate NYer (Albany area)

You don't get much strength from a screw into fiberglass, and when it does fail, it will tear out a chunk of hull with it. Anything under a lot of strain should be drilled, backing plate/washered and bolted with lots of compound (either5200 or 4200 by 3M)

Hmmmm....maybe i came to the wrong place??.

I have a 79 V25, so I'll take a shot at your questions:
1)no just drill the appropriate sized hole for the fastener.
2)I would drill the appropriate sized hole for the fastener, it's neater that way and will be easier to rebed in the future.
3) clean the winches with soapy water only!!!! do not "grease" them, it just attracts dirt and gunk.
4)I rebedded my windows also, but did not paint the frames. I just cleaned them up nice with a brass brush and scotch pad and then sprayed the whole thing with clear laquer.
5)No need to sand down the non-slip, your bedding compound will fill in the crevices.

Hope this helps, Joe. You can checkout my other mods on this site and on sailboatowners.com (I go by "thecuscus" there also.

Joe,
When you re-bed the windows make sure whatever product you use is compatible with the plexi. There can be reactions which can affect the seal and cause a leak. Good luck with it all.

Rod

Thanks guys!

another tip for rebedding is to counter sink the holes, this will elminate spider cracks in the future

If your wenches are full of gunk tell them to brush their teeth and take a shower!

See Cuscus post above for #5....