Rubber Gaskets on some deck fittings

[hriehl1]

I removed all deck hardware and some fittings (clam cleats, brass bell bracket, a few others) had black rubber-like gaskets and no other bedding material. Some rubber gaskets were intact, others a bit cracked.

When I buy new hardware, some of which comes with gaskets, do I use them without bedding material... or use them with?

For those hardware items I re-use rather than replace, can one buy sheet-rubber material to fashion one's own replacement gaskets? I asume I'd need a punch to get clean bolt-holes. If this is vialble, does anyone have an online source for the gasket material and punches?

Many Thanks

[Hirilondë]

Gaskets or bedding.

McMaster-Carr has sheet rubber and punches. I am not a big fan of gaskets for hardware, but if the surfaces are smooth they can work fine.

[hriehl1]

Thank you... after seeing the success of the butyl tape bedding method in a companion post, I think I'll go that route. This is a job I want to do just once, and do right.

I'll willingly cut corners on aesthetics to get on the water sooner, but not with items that will save only a couple hours now but may cause big headaches later.