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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

How Should A Winch Be Bedded?

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dhogenauer
Deckhand

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USA
13 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/02/2007 : 14:35:20

I am not sure of the term "bedding," but it sounds right. My post did not attract any attention under a different heading, so I'm trying again.

When I bought my ’83 C-25 standard rig last summer there were two #16 Barlow winches on the cabin roof. One worked freely, but the other was almost completely frozen (I could just barely budge it with most of my weight against the winch handle). I finally got it apart, removed it from the boat, and have fixed it. Fixing involved solvents and a lot of elbow grease with 400 grit wet/dry emery paper. I have ordered winch grease and will oil the pawls and springs before reassembly and reattachment.

But, that Barlow winch was “bedded” in a lot of what looks and feels like silicon sealer. My questions are:

1) What is the best or proper method to remove the old silicon sealer from the cabin top, from the bolts, and from the boltholes? There is a lot of it – I do not know if this had any role in binding up the winch, but it may have. There was no silicon sealer between the spindle and the drum that I could determine, but when that sealer cures, it gives off a lot of fumes (acetic acid?) and the grease may have absorbed it and become hard. Lot of guess work there.

2) I also want to know what is the best or proper method to re-bed the winch. I suspect that there is a very, very slight curve to the surface where it was mounted. I also suspect that the boltholes are slightly oversized. However, in defense of whoever installed it, it was very firm and securely attached. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Dan

Edited by - dhogenauer on 01/05/2007 22:00:33

Happy D
Admiral

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921 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2007 : 07:31:28

[url="http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/39.htm"]Don Casey's article[/url] is about the long and short of it. Do all of this and you'll be in fine shape.

Don Casey says [url="http://www.boatus.com/boattech/QuickTip45.htm"]Polysulfide[/url]

Some have tried acrylic caulk from the big box stores. Don't know how it works with salt water but I suppose it'd be fine in fresh water.

I have no idea how to get old silicone off, but if you don't get it all off, and I mean all of it, the new sealant will not stick to it. Silicone won't even stick itself.

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existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2007 : 08:41:38

When I re-bedded my winches, I removed all the old stuff with 3M general adhesive cleaner.
It takes a while to work on silicone but it will work. Soak a rag or good quality paper towel in the stuff and let the soaked rag sit on the silicone for a while. It will soften the silicone to make it easy to scrape off. You will have do the process several times to get all the silicone.
For bedding material, I'm a fan of 3M's 4000UV. Unlike 5200, it remains flexible and pliable, but has the same tenacious grip as 5200.

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2007 : 09:06:30

First a quite dinner in a darkly lite restaurant.....

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2007 : 11:56:27

My favorite heavy-duty bedding compound is 3M 101 (one of the polysulfides). Lasts a long time, forms a thick, more resilient bed for the parts involved than most anything else I've tried. When I mount hardware that is subject to a lot of load I like to use a teak 'pad' between it and the deck... increases the surface area for better load bearing. IMHO: Puts a nice 'Bristol' touch on the boat too.

Like this...
http://www.thaiteakmarine.com/catalog/page2.htm

>"First a quiet dinner in a darkly lit restaurant....."

Heh... easy to spot someone who hangs out on Sailing Anarchy.

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bbriner
Captain

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349 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2007 : 13:40:39

Dennis - I don't that's needed for a 'winch'!!! :)

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 01/06/2007 : 14:34:08

What can I say Bill, dycleks....whatever. What does a dyslexic, atheist, insomniac do all night......lay in bed and wonder if there is a Dog! Cheers.

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2007 : 12:41:47

Yet another Wench vs Winch argument. The last one somebody asked how to grease the wenches!!!

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djn
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2007 : 17:28:00

K-Y Warming gel?

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3324 Posts

Response Posted - 01/07/2007 : 23:06:21

Dan - now that the boys have had their fun, I'll be at the lake Fri afternoon and I can take a look at the winch site.

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ct95949
Captain

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Aruba
300 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2007 : 10:49:10

I always over drill, fill with epoxy and countersink new hardware holes. For a 1/4" bolt I do a 1/2"- 3/4" wide countersink hole to allow for a 'doughnut' of sealant around the bolt and hole. A cabin top winch will have a big cavity to fill with epoxy. If you don't you might collapse the interior liner when you tighten the bolts.

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dhogenauer
Deckhand

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USA
13 Posts

Response Posted - 01/08/2007 : 12:08:05

Derek,

Thanks. I doubt that I can be there on Friday - I have a morning and an afternoon appointment. I have fixed the winch, but it is in my truck still waiting for the grease. The old silicon sealer is still spread around the cabin top - I have not had a chance to tackle it.

Yes, the marketing folks would cheer. When I posed my questions with the subject, "Barlow #16 Winch," there were no replies. Since I changed the subject to "How Should A Winch Be Bedded," there have been about 10. Thanks for all of the good advice and the for the affirmation that packaging is important, that sex (or the slightest hint of it) sells, and that ribold humor is alive and well.

Thanks also for the links to proper maintenance and repair - I have saved them for future reference.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.