Best bedding compound

[SVLastTango]

I need to pull all the stantions on our 41' Morgan Out Island. What is the best bedding compound to use. 5200 is out there but what else? They have lasted 40 years and I would like it to last another 40.

[rgleason]

Originally Posted by SVLastTango

I need to pull all the stantions on our 41' Morgan Out Island. What is the best bedding compound to use. 5200 is out there but what else? They have lasted 40 years and I would like it to last another 40.

5200 may be difficult to remove the stanchions for rebed. Some heat applied carefully may help. There is a solvent for 5200 but it needs to be worked in and takes time. I would use 4200 for rebedding because it will be easier to remove next time.

[rgleason]

Also another alternative is to look at mainsail's marinehowto website where he shows how to countersink bolt holes and bed with butyl rubber for a longlasting seal. I think that would be my preference over 4200, although I've done it both ways.

[john61ct]

And the specific butyl he sells there is known to be best in the world, for that usage anyway.

[witzgall]

Bed-it from marinehowto.com.

Chris

[Gary Mc]

Yep I did my stanchion bases with 4200 and my experience was that after about three years it gets hard and then when there is movement, which there is with stanchions, it does not reseal well. Butyl works well there.


4200 is great stuff where there is no movement such as through hull fittings!

[frozenhawaiian]

unless you don't ever plan on removing them again I'd advise against 5200

[Adelie]

I used Dolphinite.

[chowdan]

Use bedit butyl tape. If you cant afford it, use other butyl tape. You should use a compound that retains elasticity throughout its life. 4200,5200 does, but will be a bear to remove later and just because it's still held via the sealant doesnt mean its sealed.

[rgleason]

Yes, from my experience, 4200 will eventually need to be redone. My experience has been every 3 to 6 years, but isn't this just due to it being a stanchion or a stay plate, subject to more pressure and use?

Does anyone have long term experience using buytl that confirms a longer period before rebedding?

Perhaps I used 4200 on my pulpit because it was available, and last year after about 5 years I had to redo it. Would buyl last many years longer?

PS: I don't find 4200 to be that hard to remove under stanchions.

[Group9]

I used 5200 the last time I had to rebed my stanchions. I just hope I die before they need to come off again!

Side note. I just spent two days to remove the anchor pulpit from our center console that had been bedded with 5200 in 1991. It did not want to come off! When they say “permanent” they ain’t just blowing smoke.

[john61ct]

Yes 5200 is primarily a strong adhesive, performance as a sealant secondary.

5200 should not be considered a "bedding compound", especially for a component that even **might** need re-bedding down the road.

[siamese]

Definitely butyl tape from MaineSail.

[S/V Illusion]

Butyl can be an effective substitute by anyone who can’t use traditional sealants without causing a mess, however, it isn’t widely recommended for a reason. Actually, a few reasons.

Everyone markets their version as better than other butyl compounds and the reality is that the components of butyls vary according to the manufacturers specs, many not designed for the use intended here.

Also, temperature range can affect all butyls changing the efficacy of some varieties and no one specifies useful temp range reliably. Temp variation and exposure to ambient conditions also can greatly reduce effective lifetime.

Further, what motivates some to use it is easy rather than efficacy.

If you want to do it right, use the right tools...

[chowdan]

Originally Posted by rgleason

Yes, from my experience, 4200 will eventually need to be redone. My experience has been every 3 to 6 years, but isn't this just due to it being a stanchion or a stay plate, subject to more pressure and use?

Does anyone have long term experience using buytl that confirms a longer period before rebedding?

Perhaps I used 4200 on my pulpit because it was available, and last year after about 5 years I had to redo it. Would buyl last many years longer?

PS: I don't find 4200 to be that hard to remove under stanchions.

I've used butyl in a number of applications on my boat and off the boat.

I've found that butyl will last longer than others IF its sole purpose is a sealant. Things like stanchions that are bolted through dont need an adhesive, rather need a sealant. The sealant properties of butyl allow great flexibility which do lead to "oozing" over time but never found this to be a serious problem(even when on boats in the tropics).

I've found butyl is much easier to remove when compared with 4200. Removing port lights sealed with 4200 is a bear in comparison to ones sealed with butyl.

Sand paper removes 4200 fairly easy