Empathy List Archives

SB

Scott Bulger

Tue, Jun 14, 2011 4:55 AM

I have a flybridge that is joined to the superstructure after arriving in
the US. Therefore there is a joint between the cabin roof and the
flybridge. We have experienced a tiny leak into the cabin and looking at
the sealant I can see small cracks in the 3 or 4 year old material. It
should be easy to strip and reapply a caulk of some kind, but I know better
than to try to use 4200 or 5200. Question is, what is the best material to
use? I am quite willing to do this every few years and look at it as
maintenance. I assume there are products like sikaflex or similar that are
tried and true? Any and all thoughts welcome!

Scott Bulger, Hobomack, 37' Mariner, Seattle WA

I have a flybridge that is joined to the superstructure after arriving in the US. Therefore there is a joint between the cabin roof and the flybridge. We have experienced a tiny leak into the cabin and looking at the sealant I can see small cracks in the 3 or 4 year old material. It should be easy to strip and reapply a caulk of some kind, but I know better than to try to use 4200 or 5200. Question is, what is the best material to use? I am quite willing to do this every few years and look at it as maintenance. I assume there are products like sikaflex or similar that are tried and true? Any and all thoughts welcome! Scott Bulger, Hobomack, 37' Mariner, Seattle WA

MR

Mark Richter

Tue, Jun 14, 2011 3:46 PM

Scott,
It's not clear to me how the join between the flybridge and the deck could
leak into the interior. Isn't the flybridge attached to the top of a
weather-tight deck? Or has the tight deck been penetrated with multiple
fastener holes causing the problem?

I understand your aversion to 3M's 5200 adhesive caulk, but I find 4200 to
be much less PERMANANT, and great for most uses aboard. However, 4200 will
turn yellow and eventually crack if exposed to direct sun; paint helps to
ameliorate this shortcoming.

Mark Richter, Ortona, FL on the Okeechobee Waterway
"Winnie the Pooh" 46' troller-yacht

I have a flybridge that is joined to the superstructure after arriving in
the US. Therefore there is a joint between the cabin roof and the
flybridge. We have experienced a tiny leak into the cabin and looking at
the sealant I can see small cracks in the 3 or 4 year old material. It
should be easy to strip and reapply a caulk of some kind, but I know
better
than to try to use 4200 or 5200. Question is, what is the best material
to
use? I am quite willing to do this every few years and look at it as
maintenance. I assume there are products like sikaflex or similar that
are
tried and true? Any and all thoughts welcome!

Scott Bulger, Hobomack, 37' Mariner, Seattle WA

Scott, It's not clear to me how the join between the flybridge and the deck could leak into the interior. Isn't the flybridge attached to the top of a weather-tight deck? Or has the tight deck been penetrated with multiple fastener holes causing the problem? I understand your aversion to 3M's 5200 adhesive caulk, but I find 4200 to be much less PERMANANT, and great for most uses aboard. However, 4200 will turn yellow and eventually crack if exposed to direct sun; paint helps to ameliorate this shortcoming. Mark Richter, Ortona, FL on the Okeechobee Waterway "Winnie the Pooh" 46' troller-yacht >I have a flybridge that is joined to the superstructure after arriving in > the US. Therefore there is a joint between the cabin roof and the > flybridge. We have experienced a tiny leak into the cabin and looking at > the sealant I can see small cracks in the 3 or 4 year old material. It > should be easy to strip and reapply a caulk of some kind, but I know > better > than to try to use 4200 or 5200. Question is, what is the best material > to > use? I am quite willing to do this every few years and look at it as > maintenance. I assume there are products like sikaflex or similar that > are > tried and true? Any and all thoughts welcome! > > Scott Bulger, Hobomack, 37' Mariner, Seattle WA

RT

Richard Tomkinson

Wed, Jun 15, 2011 4:03 AM

I have a flybridge that is joined to the superstructure after arriving in
the US. Therefore there is a joint between the cabin roof and the
flybridge. We have experienced a tiny leak into the cabin and looking at
the sealant I can see small cracks in the 3 or 4 year old material.

If the joint was put together by a factory pro it probably is butyl. Don't
try diggin out the Butyl. Messy, frustrating, and time consuming.

What I have just used at the recommendation of an aftermarket boat structure
manufacturer is Sikaflex 291.
The reason is that it holds its shape and can be easily shaped to conform to
the underlying structures. Evidently 4200 will sag as it sets up.
My experience on the flybridge joint is that it takes a little practice to
get a professional looking invisible joint. I will be painting over so I
used Sikaflex 291. If you are not painting over use Sikaflex 295. I just
tried it on a front window leak fix. Will report later. For the moment it
looks great.
Note these are sealants not adhesives. 4200 is more of an adhesive/sealant
mix; 5200 is an adhesive.

Also, the Sikaflex product cures to a useful hardness in an hour, and is
fully cured to sand in about 30 hours.
I also tried laying a new line on top of the old line and it seems to work
well, by which I mean they seemed to bond well.

>I have a flybridge that is joined to the superstructure after arriving in > the US. Therefore there is a joint between the cabin roof and the > flybridge. We have experienced a tiny leak into the cabin and looking at > the sealant I can see small cracks in the 3 or 4 year old material. If the joint was put together by a factory pro it probably is butyl. Don't try diggin out the Butyl. Messy, frustrating, and time consuming. What I have just used at the recommendation of an aftermarket boat structure manufacturer is Sikaflex 291. The reason is that it holds its shape and can be easily shaped to conform to the underlying structures. Evidently 4200 will sag as it sets up. My experience on the flybridge joint is that it takes a little practice to get a professional looking invisible joint. I will be painting over so I used Sikaflex 291. If you are not painting over use Sikaflex 295. I just tried it on a front window leak fix. Will report later. For the moment it looks great. Note these are sealants not adhesives. 4200 is more of an adhesive/sealant mix; 5200 is an adhesive. Also, the Sikaflex product cures to a useful hardness in an hour, and is fully cured to sand in about 30 hours. I also tried laying a new line on top of the old line and it seems to work well, by which I mean they seemed to bond well.

BH

Brent Hodges

Wed, Jun 15, 2011 9:46 PM

I understand your aversion to 3M's 5200 adhesive caulk, but I find 4200 to
be much less PERMANANT, and great for most uses aboard. However, 4200
will turn yellow and eventually crack if exposed to direct sun; paint
helps to ameliorate this shortcoming.(endsnip)

They make 4000 now that has about the same properties as 4200, but has UV
protection built in. I use a ton of it and have not had any problems in the
sun, or under water.

Brent Hodges

> I understand your aversion to 3M's 5200 adhesive caulk, but I find 4200 to > be much less PERMANANT, and great for most uses aboard. However, 4200 > will turn yellow and eventually crack if exposed to direct sun; paint > helps to ameliorate this shortcoming.(endsnip) They make 4000 now that has about the same properties as 4200, but has UV protection built in. I use a ton of it and have not had any problems in the sun, or under water. Brent Hodges

trawlers@lists.trawlering.com

Just remember, sealant leaks...