Caulking a centreplate case?

[dur]

The forward part of our plate case goes up to the deckhead and so most of it is above the waterline. It appears to be made from teak planks which are just closely butted together - you obviously cannot caulk it conventionally from the wet side as that is in the slot. On the odd occasions we get some water on deck (or when I tip some down the slot to loosen the mud) there are leaks into the boat from a couple of the above waterline joints. As one side is my daughters cabin this is obviously a very serious problem indeed!

Last winter I pressed a stand or two of cotton into one of the more obvious leaks, puttied it up and painted. It looks good, can't see the joint but you can see the water weeping through the paint if some is poured down the slot.

Any ideas on the correct way to fix it?

 

[Seanick]

Clean out the slot with a seam rake until both edges are clean. Mask up close to the edge.
Prime with Sika primer, and then gun/knife in brown sika 291. Flush off excess sealant, remove tape when wet, don't touch until dry. Leave fpr a few weeks before sandind and varnishing.

If the seam will allow, run a single strand of cotton at the back of the seam to give a bond breaker.

 

[oldfrank]

The plate casing may well have been originally seated on a mastic/rubber compound as a watertight seal to the hog. As hulls get older its quite normal for the bedding to perish or just die. I'd suggest that the real, long-term answer is to remove the plate casing and reseat it.

 

[dur]

I had another look at it today and it would be a real mission to remove the planking and the nature of the leek doesn't warrant that level of grief. So if I get a chance this winter I will have a go at the raking / sika sealant and see how it goes. I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks

Max