Stanchion removal, plugging bolt holes.

[wells01]

Hi
I want to remove the stanchions on my deck during the winter for galvanizing. Its a teak deck sheathed with fibreglass. What is the best way to plug the stanchion bolt holes to stop the ingress of water? Many thanks.

 

[cliff]

One option would be to fill the holes with Sikaflex, then drill it out later when you refit the stantions.
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[Toryboy1]

I cut some tapered softwood plugs which I tapped in the holes with a small amount of Sikkaflex. Atternatively, when the boat is under a cover, I have also used a piece of Sylglas tape or similar- sometimes sold as gutter repair tape, smoothed down over the holes. Parrafin removes the residue in the spring.

 

[Mirelle]

Tapered softwood plugs

but do try sailing the boat without them.

I took mine off for re-galvanising, tried life without them and they have been in a corner of the garage for some years, now, during which time our younger son has been born, crawled, walked, talked and gone to school - all without disaster (but he does wear a safety harness aboard!)

 

[Stemar]

Re: Tapered softwood plugs

If you use softwood, don't make the plugs too tight. If they get wet, they'll swell and could splinter the teak.

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day wells01,

This could be an opportunity to fill the holes with some epoxy and micro-fibres, this will stop any ingress and when re drilled will still provide protection as the epoxy will have soaked into the timber.

Just a thought.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[VicS]

If the deck surface is smooth some heavy adhesive tape will cover the holes. Other wise why not put some bolts through with some sealant under the heads.

Don't aasume the all the bases are drilled identically. Try to mark them in some way which will still be visible after regalvanising so that you can get them back in the original positions.