Smart Tabs Sealant Tape

[Btflmutant]

I just installed some Smart Tabs on my boat and I am really excited to use them. The customer service from Nauticus was awesome in quickly answering my installation questions. I used the sealant tape and, I guess, I've just never used it before and am not completely comfortable with it. If anyone has used it, did it work fine or were there any leaks? John from Nauticus assured me the sealant tape alone works great and anyone who's read these forums knows that he knows his product and stands behind it. I'm just a little nervous (okay - anal) having drilled holes into my new boat! Any comments would be appreciated.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Smart Tabs Sealant Tape

I think that it is a very good product. If you were to unscrew one of the screws you will find that that tape followed the screw thread right into the holes. IMHO it is a very good sealant.

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Smart Tabs Sealant Tape

I wasn't sure about it either... just to make me feel better I predrilled and filled the holes with 3M 5200 then put the tape over and screwed the things in place... may or may not be better but it made me feel better about it... thats what counts right?

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Smart Tabs Sealant Tape

Remember that 3M5200 is both a sealant and ashesive. It is an excellant product, but if you need to remove the screws it will be a major job.

 

[sumcat1]

Re: Smart Tabs Sealant Tape

I recently installed Smart Tabs on my boat and I also sealed the holes with 5200. I looked on the tape as something to keep water away from the holes and as a cushion between the tab and hull. My boat is also new. Sealant is like lubrication. Most problems come from not enough rather than too much.

 

[BillP]

Re: Smart Tabs Sealant Tape

Trim tabs get a lot of jerking and pressure on the mounting screws. Do yourself a favor. Drill the holes, fill them with marine caulk and coat the screw threads with caulk before doing the tape. Tape won't coat the inside of the hole like caulk will and if water gets by you will get a wet and rotten transom.<br /><br />The best way to mount would be to drill oversized mounting holes and fill them with epoxy. Then drill the correct size hole in the epoxy so no wood will be exposed. Then mount with caulk as above.

 

[swist]

Re: Smart Tabs Sealant Tape

Remember that 3M5200 is both a sealant and ashesive. It is an excellant product, but if you need to remove the screws it will be a major job.<br />

You got that right - when I was in the construction biz I once renovated a basement room where someone stuck some paneling right onto concrete using a similar polyurethane adhesive. Using a prybar either ripped the paneling, or actually pulled pieces of concrete away from the wall, but the adhesive did not part from what it was stuck to. Don't do anything with 5200 on a boat that you don't intend to still be there when you go to your reward....

 

[Btflmutant]

Re: Smart Tabs Sealant Tape

Thanks for all the help everyone.