Best silicone adhesive

andythefiddler

andythefiddler

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I need to re fix my cabin lights/windows.

They’ve only been in 2 years!

The leaks were pretty epic on the last trip, last week.

They are screwed and masticed both below and around.

I’m not saying what I used but would be very interested to hear everyone’s suggestions, please.
 
Some people are fans of butyl tape other wise Arbomast BR which is a butyl rubber based sealant

If you really insist on a silicone; Arbosil 1081
 
PCUK said:
CTi is more of an adhesive than a sealant and cures very firm. Butyl tape seals well and can be removed easily.
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Sikaflex, CT1, Puraflex 40 ( a polyurethane like Sikaflex ) and Stixall ( a hybrid like CT1) are all adhesive sealants.
Puraflex40 and Stixall are both made by Everbuild, which is a Sika group company

Note if using Sikaflex for acrylic or polycarbonate windows use Sikaflex 295 UV . Sikaflex 291i is not suitable for these or other materials which suffer from stress cracking.
 
If you use an adhesive, like Sika, you will have trouble if you want to remove them at a later date. My preference is for Butyl as it remains slightly flexible and is easier to remove.
 
I vote for Arbosil, used it on my portlights 7 years ago and not a drop of water incursion since. Make sure you get one with UV resistance. Really that is the key to any sealant around windows.
 
Hacker said:
If you use an adhesive, like Sika, you will have trouble if you want to remove them at a later date. My preference is for Butyl as it remains slightly flexible and is easier to remove.
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I am sure it works well in a temperate climate. In the Tropics it tends to go very liquidy after a while. When it doesn't this, don't be surprised to see it run down your windows. We used it in a couple of locations on fittings in the cockpit. Never again, but we are in the Tropics
 
Hacker said:
If you use an adhesive, like Sika, you will have trouble if you want to remove them at a later date. My preference is for Butyl as it remains slightly flexible and is easier to remove.
Click to expand...
I see this written very frequently and have some difficulty understanding it. With limited stowage I only use Sikaflex/Puraflex for every sealing job aboard. I never have any difficulty removing them, even light window frames.
 
Not a window fitting scenario, but one of our students correctly used EBT+ to bed in a garboard plank. All correct but we had to remove the plank, that was hard work to get back to a clean surface. For the avoidance of doubt I’m not suggesting anyone uses butyl below the waterline, but it isn’t the easiest to remove. Is it possible, of course it is but wouldn’t be my sealant of choice.
 
I'm a fan of butyl tape, used on all my refurbished windows and hull fittings - excellent stuff. On windows I fit a ss washer between the window and grp so the butyl does not get all squeezed out when the screws are tightened.
 
Has to be butyl tape or pvc foam tape. Nearly everything squirted from a tube (except butyl type) to bed a window frame gives up after a period of time.
I'm sure many of you have resealed your windows with polyeurethene or silicon only for it to start leaking again after 6 months.
 
Rappey said:
Has to be butyl tape or pvc foam tape. Nearly everything squirted from a tube (except butyl type) to bed a window frame gives up after a period of time.
I'm sure many of you have resealed your windows with polyeurethene or silicon only for it to start leaking again after 6 months.
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As I wrote in the previous thread linked in post #2, my windows were professionally rebuilt about 8 years ago using a cured silicone sealant. I replaced the windows in the boat using the same, supplied by them. They remain leak free.
 
Rappey said:
Has to be butyl tape or pvc foam tape. Nearly everything squirted from a tube (except butyl type) to bed a window frame gives up after a period of time.
I'm sure many of you have resealed your windows with polyeurethene or silicon only for it to start leaking again after 6 months.
Click to expand...
I used silicone (Dow 791) to seal my hatch glazing 6 years ago, still perfect.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
andythefiddler said:
I need to re fix my cabin lights/windows.

They’ve only been in 2 years!

The leaks were pretty epic on the last trip, last week.

They are screwed and masticed both below and around.

I’m not saying what I used but would be very interested to hear everyone’s suggestions, please.
Click to expand...
I'd agree with the others on here that Arbo products have some great sealant adhesives, better (and cheaper) than the well know marine brands. Some chandleries used to sell it but search on line.
 
I think you have to be careful with silicone sealants. I used some recently on a bathroom project and was very surprised how poorly it adhered to ceramic tiles.
 
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