Steering pedestal top plate gasket (easy preventative maintenance access)

Yeoman_24

Yeoman_24

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I have stripped down my 1970’s steering pedestal on my Moody 30 to change the bearings. Pig of a job and I intend to do a PBO article...

... anyway, I want to fix the DMC top plate to the top of the pedestal bowl but with a gasket rather than sealant so I can get in every couple of years and check grease, etc, (points to bolt together are arrowed on the attached picture). I’ve had a bit of a look at the usual butyl tape, sikalex, etc options but like the ides of either;
  • A full width ‘gasket’, cut to shape from something like a 4mm closed cell foam sheet.
  • Alternatively, my thought is for a (one side adhesive ) strip of closed foam draught excluder. About 6mm to 10mm wide and around 5mm high. The sticky will hold the strip perfectly in place on the pedestal stand while I screw down the top plate and compress the closed cell strip converting it into a sealing gasket.
This appears to be the sort of gaskets marine instruments come with now to seal against bulkheads and it seems to me like a clean, simple, effective and modern alternative.

Thoughts or experiences welcome please.
 

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I'm due a similar overhaul of my same-vintage Edison steering pedestal, though it'll have to wait until next year. I'll be buying the PBO with that article in! ?

As for the gasket, self adhesive closed cell foam insulation strip should be fine I think. Its what I'm using on my deck hatches and its keeping out hard rain and deckwash hosing down. Haven't had green water over the deck to test it properly but your pedestal isn't going to get that sort of water or need to be opened so regularly. Thinner will be better and good quality foam is important -2 or 3mm thick dense foam rather than the cheaper foam with more bubbles. It gives a better seal and is easier to work with.
It wont be easy to cut foam tape to the relatively tight radius of a steering pedestal. You will probably have to snip out triangular slits to prevent the inner edges rucking up. And I 'scarf' the joint by cutting a 60 degree or so angle to each end in order to improve, I hope, the seal.
That said, you can buy neoprene rubber sheets or strips on Ebay that are more suitable to cut gaskets from.
 
differentroads said:
I'm due a similar overhaul of my same-vintage Edison steering pedestal, though it'll have to wait until next year. I'll be buying the PBO with that article in! ?

As for the gasket, self adhesive closed cell foam insulation strip should be fine I think. Its what I'm using on my deck hatches and its keeping out hard rain and deckwash hosing down. Haven't had green water over the deck to test it properly but your pedestal isn't going to get that sort of water or need to be opened so regularly. Thinner will be better and good quality foam is important -2 or 3mm thick dense foam rather than the cheaper foam with more bubbles. It gives a better seal and is easier to work with.
It wont be easy to cut foam tape to the relatively tight radius of a steering pedestal. You will probably have to snip out triangular slits to prevent the inner edges rucking up. And I 'scarf' the joint by cutting a 60 degree or so angle to each end in order to improve, I hope, the seal.
That said, you can buy neoprene rubber sheets or strips on Ebay that are more suitable to cut gaskets from.
Click to expand...
Good suggestions. Thanks for those
 
LadyInBed said:
That foam strip should do a job.
Sounds like you have been lucky when stripping it down, I had problems with stainless screws seized in the aluminium. I used lots of Duralac when I put them back!
Click to expand...
Lots of heat finally got mine moving but an horrendous job. Also twisted two Halfords Advanced impact driver bits to destruction but got there in the end! No quibble replacements from a Halfords too.
 
I had a devil of a time getting the top plate off the pedestal in my Moody 30. However, there was no gasket there. Reading this makes me realise how important this is - so I'll be fitting one promptly. I have a cockpit cover, so it would only be getting wet whilst in use, but, it still needs doing.

Getting the old bolts out was such a nightmare I have been in the habit of turning them a little quite regularly. I did use the magic Duralac of course.
 
I think I'd be in favour of filling the whole joint with a gasket, to avoid having a slot which will attract water and corrosion.
3mm sounds very thick.
I don't think you want the gasket flexing every time you put force on the helm.
If the mating faces are flat. a conventional paper gasket, gasket goo on one side, grease on the other, might be at least as good.
 
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