rubber sheet for deck glands

[Ian_Edwards]

I have a couple of Index Marine Deck Gland DR1, rectangular units were you drill a hole the same diameter as the cable, which then forms a seal when the flange is screwed down. I want to reuse these units after re-cabling the mast with smaller cables. So I need small quantities of rubber sheet 10mm thick. I've found some on ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10mm-thic...401?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27ce94fe09

200mm by 200mm is more than I need but I guess I can also make blanks to seal the deck whilst the mast is down.

Will this type of rubber sheet work as a deck gland? or do I need a special type?

 

[David2452]

I have a couple of Index Marine Deck Gland DR1, rectangular units were you drill a hole the same diameter as the cable, which then forms a seal when the flange is screwed down. I want to reuse these units after re-cabling the mast with smaller cables. So I need small quantities of rubber sheet 10mm thick. I've found some on ebay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10mm-thic...401?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27ce94fe09

200mm by 200mm is more than I need but I guess I can also make blanks to seal the deck whilst the mast is down.

Will this type of rubber sheet work as a deck gland? or do I need a special type?

The shore hardness in the link puts it around the same or a bit harder than normal car tyre so from using those glands previously it is not that much different.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

Thanks David2452, I'll try it and see if it compresses when I crew down the flange.

 

[omega2]

Pond liner ??

 

[reeac]

If you have a friendly local garage they might give you an old inner tube [yes, still used for some vehicles] . I suspect that it would be much easier to cut several discs from that than to cut one from 10 mm. sheet. I use s length of mountain bike inner tube as a swan neck for mast wires.

 

[nigelmercier]

The shore hardness in the link puts it around the same or a bit harder than normal car tyre ...

Got a reference for such a comparison?

 

[vyv_cox]

Got a reference for such a comparison?

Here's one http://mykin.com/rubber-hardness-chart

 

[vyv_cox]

If you have a friendly local garage they might give you an old inner tube [yes, still used for some vehicles] . I suspect that it would be much easier to cut several discs from that than to cut one from 10 mm. sheet. I use s length of mountain bike inner tube as a swan neck for mast wires.

Inner tubes are made from natural rubber, which unless heavily vulcanised like the outer cover has rather poor UV resistance. I suspect the real thing is neoprene.

 

[Woodlouse]

Personally I'd bung it down on a sealant such as Arbokol instead of using rubber or neoprene. My experience of using the supplied bit of rubber on a wooden deck has resulted in a very wet and squidgy plank.

 

[nedmin]

Call at a commercial tyre place and they will probably give you an old lorry inner tube. Makes excellent gaskets and doesn't rot easily

 

[reeac]

Not much UV inside a deck fitting. My swan necks seem to last several years - limiting factor is probably twisting when the mast is removed each Autumn.

 

[David2452]

Got a reference for such a comparison?

Yes but I see Vyv has already posted a link to one.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Call at a commercial tyre place and they will probably give you an old lorry inner tube. Makes excellent gaskets and doesn't rot easily

…………and, cut into rings, makes excellent "elastic" bands for gluing and the like.

 

[nedmin]

Not much natural rubber in inner tubes nowadays. Natural rubber is effected by oil,doesnt bother modern day inner tubes.

 

[Scarron]

Inner tubes are made from natural rubber, which unless heavily vulcanised like the outer cover has rather poor UV resistance. I suspect the real thing is neoprene.

Natural rubber is not 'gas tight' so inner tubes are traditionally made from Butyl. The ebay stuff is probably commercial grade natural rubber which has poor UV and Ozone resistance, Neoprene or EPDM would be best for this application.