[Rhodes22-list] Sealing hull to deck gaps

[Michael McKay]

Thanks Mark, these are excellent resources. 

Michael McKay
(630) 209-2054 (m)

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 29, 2022, at 1:36 PM, Mark Whipple <mark at whipplefamily.com> wrote:
> 
> From Practical Sailor:
> 
> Silicone caulk is notorious for wreaking havoc with the adhesion of
> sealants and paint. In fact, you will probably find that new silicone
> bedding does not bond well to surfaces that have been supposedly scrubbed
> clean. The trouble is that old silicone can be deeply embedded in the pores
> of gelcoat and wood, invisible to the naked eye.
> 
> https://www.practical-sailor.com/boat-maintenance/ps-tests-adhesive-removers
> 
> and
> 
> Many companies, including Pettit—who have launched a new line of caulks,
> <https://pettitpaint.com/products/sealants-adhesives/>offer new
> UV-resistant and paintable polyether blends that can be used in lieu of
> silicone, which has a reputation of leaving behind invisible residue that
> can interfere with the adhesion of subsequent coatings of paint or varnish
> on the bedded fitting, or even on the adjacent surfaces. If you have to
> remove silicone or remove stubbornly adhered polyurethane caulk like 3M
> 5200, check out our Practical Sailor’s test of adhesive removers
> <https://www.practical-sailor.com/boat-maintenance/ps-tests-adhesive-removers>
> .
> 
> https://www.practical-sailor.com/blog/the-right-caulk-for-your-boat
> 
> I can confirm from experience that it can be nearly impossible to get
> anything to seal to surfaces that were previously exposed to silicone
> caulk. I've had to use a digester solution to remove the silicone from the
> gelcoat.
> 
> Mark
> 
> Boston, MA
> 
> 2000 R22 *Luna Mia*
> 
> 
>> On Wed, Jun 29, 2022 at 12:07 PM Michael McKay <mm.bizlist1 at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>> I’ve found that there are visible gaps in the hull to deck joint of my
>> boat, which allow some water to intrude when the boat heels a lot.   My
>> mechanic suggested using silicone caulking to seal these areas but I’ve
>> frequently read that silicone should be avoided except for things like port
>> lights and hatches.   Do you have any advice or experience with this issue?
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Michael McKay
>> s/v Liber 2006/2018
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone