Best Sealant for Deck Gear

CT1 is a very good adhesive/ sealer if that is what you want. However, with deck fittings, its not necessary to stick the fitting to the deck, the bolts, screws etc will provide mechanical strength and the compression to squash whatever gasket material is used. In the past, a rubber gasket would have been used with no adhesion at all. My criteria for gasket material are :- non-messy, durable and easy to remove if necessary. This rules out any excessively sticky products such as PU40, SIKA 291 and CT1. At the moment I prefer butyl tape but have yet to try removing it after several years.

CT1 also goes rock hard. Ok for things you never want to pull apart again (like hull/deck joints)
 
alpha 22 great link thanks but do you know where I can buy good stuff in the UK?
The link refers to the pre-EPA stuff being better than that available now - obviously he wants to sell his stuff direct but damned expensive to buy from him in the US
 
I generally buy the 4W stuff of ebay... usually listed as "Caravan Mastic Tape" I'm not sure how it stack up in the quality stakes, but it is consistent and works well for me.

I am a great fan of CT1 for some jobs, but noticed recently two failures of fittings sealed with CT1. One was a nav light, the other a canopy lacing hook. I can understand that there is a loading on the hook, but the nav light.... hmm total joint failure in under 3 years, and it was cleaned with IPA prior to application.
 
Based on my experience of the last few days do not use self adhesive butyl tape. I tried scraping it off, it gummed up the scraper. I tried melting it off with WD40 and paint thinner. it went gooey. I tried scraping that off, it gummed up the scraper.

In the end I ground it off with the grinder and a face off disk. That hasn't done the gelcoat any favours.
 
Hi All and please excuse the ignorance, but I am struggling to get a firm grasp on exactly the right type of butyl tape to get. I read in this post. (And others) about classes of tape to get, but can't get an exact/precise recommended manufacturer or brand.
I have looked on various internet websites and. Watched YouTube videos so know that this is the type of stuff I need, but not sure what to commit to ie which ones are Adhesive -types, which ones are mastic- type etc.
So can we reach any consensus about a brand? An seven a seller?
Many thanks
Jaba
 
Hi All and please excuse the ignorance, but I am struggling to get a firm grasp on exactly the right type of butyl tape to get. I read in this post. (And others) about classes of tape to get, but can't get an exact/precise recommended manufacturer or brand.
I have looked on various internet websites and. Watched YouTube videos so know that this is the type of stuff I need, but not sure what to commit to ie which ones are Adhesive -types, which ones are mastic- type etc.
So can we reach any consensus about a brand? An seven a seller?
Many thanks
Jaba

I used this stuff...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Butyl-Tap...-for-Roofing-Sheets-Roof-Sheets-/200778833832
 
I have had reasonable success removing in the following way.

Pull off as much as you can with fingers. Try rolling it off, like blue tack.

Use a blob in your fingers in a push on, pull off quickly. Jabbing action to pick up as much as possible.

Then for what remains, a flat screw driver, used as a scraper on a small area at a time, working along the edge. If it is kept parallel with the surface, very little downward pressure is required and little or no damage will result. In most cases, the fitting will be replaced so some minor surface damage is acceptable. This is time consuming, it won't just wipe off.

I have recently purchased some 'plastic razor blades' this may be a better solution.
 
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