If you buy butyl tape, make sure it's actually butyl tape. There are other products advertised as butyl but are not.
Also butyl tape is something that I would suggest you buy in person at your local marine supply store  and not over the internet. I bought some that was trash so I tossed it. I bought a replacement roll online from Sailrite and it was just as bad...all melted together, it was a mess. I managed to scrape and pinch up enough to use on my rails but it was another $20 wasted with the tax and shipping and very messy.

Todd T

On Thu, Apr 20, 2023, 9:36 PM Peter Nyberg <peter at sunnybeeches.com> wrote:

> Stephen,
>
> You seem to understand the concept of drill-fill-drill.  I will generally
> make the larger hole around 2.5 to 3 times the size of the final pilot hole.
>
> Butyl is a sealant.  I know Defender has it, but it shouldn't be hard to
> find.  It is generally sold as a long strip or 'tape'.  You cut off a
> section and work it like 'Play-Doh'.  It seems to stay 'goopy' forever.
> Whatever you don't use will keep for years, as opposed to most sealant that
> comes in a squeeze tube.
>
> --Peter
>
> > On 2023-04-20, at 17:45:33 EDT, Stephen Staum wrote:
> >
> > Peter if you could explain the drill-fill-drill method that would be
> great.  I
> > assume I drill a larger hole, fill it with epoxy then drill a smaller
> pilot hole
> > for the screws.  That was my plan.  Let me know if that makes sense.
> > Also, what is butyl?  Is that a sealant for bedding the new rails?  FYI,
> the new
> > rails will not cover the old holes.
> > In a different life I could appreciate the esthetic of the wooden rails.
> In this
> > life, I would rather sail than refinish and my wooden rails really look
> > terrible.
> > Thanks to all and good sailing!!
> >
> >
> > *Thanks and Stay Well,*
> >
> > *Stephen Staum*
> > *s/v Pinafore*
> >
> > *Needham, MA*
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>