caulking a pitch pine hull

[skipperscouse]

after re planking [about 300 ft ] i'm thinking about the caulking. last time i used red / white lead.
a friend has suggested some stuff in a tube, swears by it.
i've already primed with metallic paint, including the seams.
any thoughts ?

thanks in anticipation of your replys
pete

 

[Guest]

He may be talking about Sykaflex? but being a bit of an old fart, I would prefer the Red / white lead putty

 

[aztec]

ever heard of Gripfill?... just a question really... an old... very old actually boat builder uses it for caulking...

i thought it sounded a bit duff, but i've since found it being used elsewhere.

ever heard of this?

steve.

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
ever heard of Gripfill?... just a question really... an old... very old actually boat builder uses it for caulking...

i thought it sounded a bit duff, but i've since found it being used elsewhere.

ever heard of this?

steve.

[/ QUOTE ]

Silly bu99er!! it's what holds me teef in! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Decided to be serious for a moment, have a look at this, check out uses?

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/DataSheets/Laybond/FxGrip.html#Uses

How are you going to ensure that on a wooden boat it is never going to get wet?

 

[Woodlouse]

Sikaflex above the water. Farm 100 below.

 

[m1taylor]

Now I am novice first time wooden boat owner...but I thought that Sikaflex was a no-no because wood needs to move with its moisture content, and sikaflex doesn't want to move - with the result that the wood can be strained and damaged, as the joint may be stronger than the wood. So please do correct me if I am wrong - just interested in the answers.

 

[Mirelle]

Sikaflex moves just fine!

The reason old skinflints like me don't use it is, firstly, the awful cost, and secondly the way in which it can unpredictably "let go" on one side of a seam whilst hanging on worse than limpets to the other. It is the very devil to remove once it does this, whilst conventional white/red lead putty comes out easily.

A really good product, below the waterline (don't ignore the makers' instructions and use it above - and don't ask me how I know that!) is Jeffreys Seamflex, which remains flexible but comes out when you want it to.

 

[Woodlouse]

Sikaflex is fine because it sets to a stretchy rubbery state. Epoxy is the big no no for caulking. But then, what psychopath would do that. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif