What kind of Caulk?

[25thmustang]

I'm hoping some of the experts can help me here. In an attempt to clean the cockpit of my boat, I am going to be removing the old nasty caulk. I plan to apply new caulk in these areas in a neater fashion. My question is, what caulk should I be using? I know everyone loves 3M 4200 or 5200. Is one or the other appropriate here? I would assume 4200, as I may have to remove it later, and 5200 doesn't take that well. What about a silicone caulk? Or should I head to the local West Marine and ask their opinion?

See the photo below, the areas needing to be done are all along the forward cockpit, where the side walls meet along the floor, and meet eachother. Probably no direct rain or water, but it will get wet.

Thanks

 

[produceguy]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

I'm no expert but what about useing pl.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

Silicone caulk probably won't last. Is that carpet? If so, you'll need to use 4200 underneath the edges, too. The deck should be fiberglassed, or epoxied. There shouldn't be a space to be caulked all around the deck. Am I not seeing the picture properly; My perception of the photo may be mistaken.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

Sorry, that is very dirty non skid, I am in the middle of teak reworking and it's a mess. What your seeing is the side interior panels of the cockpit, over the aft cabin, and the floor (ceiling of the aft cabin) of the cockpit area, where they meet. There is also caulk around the bulkhead of the cabin and the cockpit. It appears the factory caulked these joints as well, although much cleaner and neater.

I basically have two pieces of fiberglass meeting at a right angle that needs to be sealed up.

Thanks

 

[sublauxation]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

That would cost a fortune in 4200. Home Depot has that Quad Caulk that I used on my windows and after 2 years it's still shiny and white, that may be something to look into.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

Quad Caulk, I will have to look into that.

I can't imagine, being done clean and right, the amount I have to do would be more than two tubes of 4200. Although I am unsure what it costs, the benefit would be a cleaner looking cockpit, and possibly added water leak protection.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

Look into 3M 4000 also.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

Look into 3M 4000 also.

+1 3M 4200 doesn't hold up well and will dry out and crack eventually. 3M 4000 is UV safe.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

Where would I be able to get 4000? I can't say I have seen, but also can't say I have looked for it.

 

[tschmidty]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

3m has an online store but I am sure a google search would find an online retailer.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

I got 3M 4000 at We$t Marine. I want to say it was like $16 for a 10oz caulk gun tube. I was sealing all my deck hardware, and all my both above below the waterline hardware, and the guy sold me on it because of its UV stability, its above-and-below rating, and the fact that it is rated for plastic/fiberglass/metal in any combination (which IIRC none of the others are). It is basically the "all-purpose" marine sealant.

Did the seal job just this past weekend as a matter of fact; that stuff was fully cured next day (though it was 90?F on Saturday).

 

[Outsider]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

The 3m stuff is adhesive/sealant, and I think you'd be better served with a pure sealant. Grady White uses GE Silicone II Door and Window for their deck hatches, I used it 3 years ago when installing new tanks and it is weathering just fine. There are others, I just know about this one from personal use in the environment you'll be using something ...

 

[veritas honus]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

Do you really want it to be semi-perminent? Why not use epoxy... Tape off a clean edge on either side of the joint all around, and fill the joint with epoxy. There's got to be a reason the factory made it semi-perminent, though. If that reason isn't good enough, or isn't at all critical, I would epoxy it. What's under the deck over there that needs to be accessable? Can it be accessd from inside, as opposed to being accessed from up top?

 

[25thmustang]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

Anything located behind this particular panel, can be accessed through the aft cabin. Not easily, but not any harder than it would be to remove this side piece, however it might come out. As far as perminent, or semi-perminent, I am not one way or another, other than the fact that in thinking of using the 5200, if for some reason I needed to remove it, I hear it's very difficult.

Epoxy is a good idea. I need to weigh my options and see what the best cure may be.

Also I am unsure the factory did much more than run a bead of caulk along these seams. I'm not sure it was ever really perminent.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

Anything located behind this particular panel, can be accessed through the aft cabin. Not easily, but not any harder than it would be to remove this side piece, however it might come out. As far as perminent, or semi-perminent, I am not one way or another, other than the fact that in thinking of using the 5200, if for some reason I needed to remove it, I hear it's very difficult.

Epoxy is a good idea. I need to weigh my options and see what the best cure may be.

Also I am unsure the factory did much more than run a bead of caulk along these seams. I'm not sure it was ever really perminent.

Being that you can gain access from inside, I would definitely go with the epoxy. I just can't help but wonder why the factory didn't simply make the deck one intergral unit moulded in with the fiberglass. You can make it that way with either fiberglass or epoxy now. If it were me, I'd go with the epoxy. Have you determined whether or not there's any rot? Is everything clean and dry inside?

 

[204 Escape]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

+1 on the QUAD caulk. ( It is kind of a sticky type product though). Can you use a caulking tool that can be bought at Home Depot etc, to make a nice look ? ALSO, a good sealant that can be bought at Home Depot, and other places is a product called Through The Roof. It's clear and can be installed during a rain, etc. About $7/tube.

 

[beagleboy]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

I would reccomend GE Silicone White Bath and Tub. It has anti mildew. If it last a season or two replace it again. Can't see the boat getting anymore water exposure then a shower stall.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

I currently have the aft cabin interior panels out for sanitation line work, and there is no rot, and not much in that area that could rot. Behind that panel is wiring, sanitation lines, etc, otherwise it is an open area behind the side wall to the aft cabin.

I'm not sure why it wasn't made as a single piece, but the option to connect it is a decent one to look into.

If I were to caulk it, I would use a caulk gun, some tape, etc and make it look a lot better than it currently does.

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: What kind of Caulk?

I would reccomend GE Silicone White Bath and Tub. It has anti mildew. If it last a season or two replace it again. Can't see the boat getting anymore water exposure then a shower stall.

I agree.....that's what I would do. If the factory didn't seal it with exposy or 5200....why should you? There has to be a reason behind the factory not doing it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What kind of Caulk?

I'm with bath caulk, too, since it's above the waterline and will need it again eventually.