Boat Forum / Building / April 2005

Your need better advice than I can provide but 3M does make a tube
cartridge dispensed product called Teak Seal. The tube I bought is
black but I haven't used it yet. There is black 4200/5200 also. I
think my hatch covers were caulked with BoatLife, which is also black
and a horrible chore to remove; an 18' deck would be impractical for
someone working alone. I took a walk on the dock and most of the hatch
and cockpit caulking was white, while decking (the 4 examples in
hundreds of boats) is black. I'm still trying to find out if you
varnish over the sealant for uv protection. I have had uv exposed 5200
seams fail after 3 years outside. Someone laughed and said, "well,
duh, you're supposed to paint it". If you find out more about this
please post your findings and good luck.

I have very limited experience of using caulking having only done a
small 3'x4' bit of teak but sikaflex-290 was strongly recommended by
local boat builders. It came in a cartridge and went on very easily and
sands nicely. I did think it was expensive and was glad that I was only
doing a small bit but then it does have a little icon with a spoked
ships wheel on the tube so it was never going to be cheap.

Next year I will be re-doing all the hatches and seats so would be
interested in any experiences you have.

Steve

It sort of depends on a lot of other issues, but I believe Sika flex is
widely used. If it is a special old boat you might want to use tar and
string. If it is decking over fibreglass then anything which looks right and
stays in place will be okay. If there isn't a cabin beneath then you may not
be too concerned with total watertightness.

BTW caulked decks are not normally varnished. You may not want to
re-varnish.

Tim W

'lbeyer' ,
IF you varnish a deck, you WILL slip, and you WILL fall. If it is a
foredeck, hopefully that won't be overboard.

High gloss varnished 'decks' look great on the old 'Classic Chris Craft
Barrel Back' or similar powerboat. However on a sailboat they are actually a
hazard.

Take a look at the different products available for 'caulking' . Stay AWAY
from the 'adhesives/sealers' like 5200, etc. READ the 'specs' on the tubes
{ 'caulking gun' size }. Some are actually designed for this chore. Also
look at the manufacturers on-line sites. THEN . . . look on the shelves of
Home Depot, Lowes, etc. In several cases the SAME actual products are there.
In others, the only difference is the label. {20 years on a window exposed
to weathering 12-months of the year vs. the 'pampered Summer' of a cherished
sailboat ?? }

Finally . . . if that Buzzards Bay's deck is TEAK . . . it would be the
equivalent of barratry to do anything other than to apply several coats of
'teak oil'. Followed by an oil wipe-down 'as needed'.

Regards & Good Luck,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop

SNIP