What's the difference between regular silicone, and marine sealant?

[12thManFalseStart]

Besides the major difference in price?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: What's the difference between regular silicone, and marine sealant?

One works and one doesn't.

 

[GWPSR]

Re: What's the difference between regular silicone, and marine sealant?

Read this thread for a spirited discussion on the topic. It's not all name-calling however. Some good info in there.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: What's the difference between regular silicone, and marine sealant?

Marine sealant is formulated to endure the harsh marine environment of being continuously exposed to water and the creatures that live in the water, whether salt or fresh and the exposure to UV sunlight...
Keep in mind, a boat is very similar to an airplane, if you run into trouble, you can't just pull over to safety...
The added expense of certain Marine Products far over shadows the peace of mind that comes from knowing that is one less thing to worry about when you are out in the big blue with your loved ones and things start to go bad due to inclement weather...plus the fact that a couple extra bucks spent now, will last a lot longer than trying to go cheap and having to re-do it in short order...
Think about it this way, if you spend 25 bucks on a tube of 5200 sealant and use it as directed, it can last the life of the boat, which could be decades...
If you use regular home silicone sealant in certain places on a boat, and it fails, the few dollars you saved are not going to be worth the mental anxiety and possible physical trauma you and yours can experience from it...
On another note, marine sealant is designed for the stresses a boat will see while in open water, I don't think the same applies to "home" use silicone...a house doesn't bounce on waves...
Then again, worse things have been done to boats with success...:facepalm:
That's my 2?...
Happy and safe boating!
GT1M

 

[12thManFalseStart]

Re: What's the difference between regular silicone, and marine sealant?

Read this thread for a spirited discussion on the topic. It's not all name-calling however. Some good info in there.

Wow, thanks for that. I'm not lazy, and searched "marine sealant", but didn't come up with any threads dedicated to it, only threads that had mentioned "marine sealant". Thanks. Seems like quite the thread with lots of reply's/arguments. Guess I'd have to read each label and see what's different between the two. Guess Marine sealant lasts longer, or sticks better to fiber glass. Just guessing. Still would be nice to know the difference, and it being a big enough difference in justifying paying more for something pretty similar, except the name.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: What's the difference between regular silicone, and marine sealant?

I bought 'standard' sized caulk gun tubes of 3M 5200 on sale for a bit over $11ea from HD of all places. 12oz+/-.

DEFINITELY worth twice the price of typical 100% silicon caulking, I think it was almost $6 the last time I bought any of it.

1 of the reasons I suggest reading thru other threads & ask to see pix of more then what you're working on at this moment is to help plan the moves/tasks that are 5 or 6 steps away.

Knowing that you want to save $ if & where you can, you can start to watch for stuff you WILL NEED to be on sale or discounted etc and have it on hand when you get to that point. Not always trying to find the inexpensive widget you need to hook up the electrical to the motor THIS weekend so you can be testing & working out any kinks during the week a little at a time after work. Doing the right now shopping also prevents you from keeping the next 4-6wk work pipeline full of materials & etc.

That's how most of the 'bottom feeder' tin boat builders do it. Stockpile stuff that won't go bad (poly resin, MEKP & epoxy all have a shelf life UNOPENED).

You should be able to find MSDS & technical spec data online for most products you'll use on a boat rehab.

I recently read a debate about silicon & aluminum Airstream trailers, glass & aluminum where both discussed.

It was noted that silicon caulk produces an acid while it cures. This helps 'etch' the surface you're applying it to, as a mechanical bond. Aluminum also oxidizes to protect itself from the elements. These 2 properties of the silicon & aluminum work against each other & further degrade the bond, which is regularly cycled thru different expansion & contraction rates. Once silicon starts to curl at the edge of a joint, it quickly & easily loses it's ability to remain bonded thru the rest of the joint.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: What's the difference between regular silicone, and marine sealant?

3M 5200 is worth its weight in gold. As stated, it's strong as can be along with being UV resistant, marine proof, easy to use and readily available (Lowes/HD). Good stuff, but kind of gloopy so you'll want to have some paper towels and a bit of acetone handy for clean up.