Butyl tape?
- Thread starter Allan
- Start date
skipmac
Well-Known Member
From the photo that looks like it's the right stuff. However from my experience I recommend caution as not all butyl tape is created equal.
I have used four different varieties on my boat. Two failed miserably, one was fine, one excellent.
I purchased the best from a US marine service and products agent who has butyl tape specially formulated and it shows. The ones that failed were purchased from a caravan/RV center. They offered black, white and gray, all from different sources. I purchased some of each with the plan to use appropriate colors for different bits and locations. The white and the black completely failed in about a year. Dried out, turned to powder and had to be replaced. The gray held up and still seems to be working.
I went back to the shop to get some more gray and had a talk with an old timer that worked in the repair shop. He informed me that they only sold the white and black because customers insisted for color matching reasons and it was cheaper but the only one he would use was the gray.
The really good stuff is sold as Bed-It tape by Compass Marine in the US but the owner has been in hospital and has not been shipping lately. There is one reseller of his product in Canada, Marine Outfitters. Probably some very good sources in the UK but regret I can't refer you to any over there.
I have used four different varieties on my boat. Two failed miserably, one was fine, one excellent.
I purchased the best from a US marine service and products agent who has butyl tape specially formulated and it shows. The ones that failed were purchased from a caravan/RV center. They offered black, white and gray, all from different sources. I purchased some of each with the plan to use appropriate colors for different bits and locations. The white and the black completely failed in about a year. Dried out, turned to powder and had to be replaced. The gray held up and still seems to be working.
I went back to the shop to get some more gray and had a talk with an old timer that worked in the repair shop. He informed me that they only sold the white and black because customers insisted for color matching reasons and it was cheaper but the only one he would use was the gray.
The really good stuff is sold as Bed-It tape by Compass Marine in the US but the owner has been in hospital and has not been shipping lately. There is one reseller of his product in Canada, Marine Outfitters. Probably some very good sources in the UK but regret I can't refer you to any over there.
mrangry
Well-Known Member
That looks fine just make sure it is the right dimensions for your use. If it is not you can pull an amount off and just roll it between your hands to a sausage shape for forming as a gasket. Once to secure the fitting you are sealing you will get some surplus squeezing out but this can be removed easily with a plastic body filler applicator or an old bank card.
Concerto
Well-Known Member
Looks right as it is intended for damp proofing. I have used butyl rubber for lots of fittings. The day after fitting you may find a small amount of sqeeze out. Trim it off with a sharp knife. Any that may leave a small thin residue can be wiped off with a little white spirit on kitchen paper.
jamie N
Well-Known Member
Would this be recommended 'above' CT1, for instance?
Or have I got the wrong end of the stick.
Or have I got the wrong end of the stick.
mrangry
Well-Known Member
CT1 is an adhesive sealant I think and butyl is just a sealant which requires bolts or screws to secure joint.
dankilb
Well-Known Member
We opted for a branded version (Abro Arboseal - also available in white)… so far, so good.
jaminb
Well-Known Member
Watch this - his boat is built with the stuff!
ibbo
Well-Known Member
Albin Ballads are sealed with it. It continues to come out of the hull/ deck joint each time you tighten the bolts up.
I sealed some items with it, and others with sikaflex, after 3 years there was no difference in leaks. It has the huge advantage of an easy clean up if you have to remove fittings.
For something pristine, you will often have black smudges from it magically appearing around the boat.
A ball of it doesn't go off for years, sikaflex tubes are toast within days once opened. I only used cheap grey stuff off ebay. The original was grey too.
You do need a grove for it to sit in, or it is all squeezed out.
Good stuff.
Mike
I sealed some items with it, and others with sikaflex, after 3 years there was no difference in leaks. It has the huge advantage of an easy clean up if you have to remove fittings.
For something pristine, you will often have black smudges from it magically appearing around the boat.
A ball of it doesn't go off for years, sikaflex tubes are toast within days once opened. I only used cheap grey stuff off ebay. The original was grey too.
You do need a grove for it to sit in, or it is all squeezed out.
Good stuff.
Mike
[70521]
Well-Known Member
Butyl tape does not set hard.
penfold
Well-Known Member
Another vote for ARBO products; in this instance Arbomast is the stuff that comes in tubes, ARBO make butyl tape as well and I'd assume it was just as good.
alexincornwall
Well-Known Member
I needed to rebed a deck chainplate and put a post on a rigging focussed Facebook group on this very subject. There were many responses with the consensus split equally with some suggesting butyl tape and others swearing by Sika 291i (which I went for and hasn't caused me any reason to regret so far).
mrangry
Well-Known Member
The advantage of using butyl is that it can be easily dismantled and resealed whereas sika is a pig to remove.
TSB240
Well-Known Member
I have just used that to help the deck seal for our keel stepped mast. It is very sticky as long as there is no trace of water on the items you are sealing.
I have also used it for sealing screwed and bolted fittings to the deck.
Remains flexible unlike sika.
Ideal for bedding windows.
A roll also came in very handy as a bandage when my exhaust elbow blew and got me back from Scotland to North Wales when combined with a couple of jubilee clips.
I have also used it for sealing screwed and bolted fittings to the deck.
Remains flexible unlike sika.
Ideal for bedding windows.
A roll also came in very handy as a bandage when my exhaust elbow blew and got me back from Scotland to North Wales when combined with a couple of jubilee clips.
Allan
Well-Known Member
I'm a fan of CT1 and certainly think it's better than Sikaflex. Unfortunately it's an adhesive which is not required for this job.
Allan
PetiteFleur
Well-Known Member
I've used Butyl tape for a variety of purposes, bedding perspex windows(with stainless washers at the bolt/screws), bedding deck fittings, bedding through hull fittings etc. Originally used fitting double glazed glass in wooden windows in house extension.
MikeCC
Well-Known Member
I've used the Toolstation one for its intended purpose and it is very sticky.
On boat used the Arbo tape under deck fittings with no problems at all.
Arbo is a bit easier to handle as it's narrower and thicker than the Toolstation one.
On boat used the Arbo tape under deck fittings with no problems at all.
Arbo is a bit easier to handle as it's narrower and thicker than the Toolstation one.
dankilb
Well-Known Member
By the sound/look of it, the Toolstation one isn’t a ‘glazing’ profile (the ideal shape/size for bedding deck fittings - or cutting in half for sealing fasteners). So it may be advisable for the OP to keep looking…
Malish
Well-Known Member
+ 1
Windows bedded on Sika (by a PO) proved to be a particular challenge recently when I had to remove them....
Last edited:
alahol2
Well-Known Member
Another vote for Arboseal GZ tape. 5 or 6 years down the line the remains of the roll are still perfectly useable. Remember to countersink the bolt holes in the deck so that the butyl tape is squashed in and seals perfectly.
Arboseal GZ
Arboseal GZ
