Caulking: little craters in places

[Jamesuk]

Hi,

Skimming the caulking in places has revealed little holes that appear to be air pockets in the caulking. In most of the boat it looks fine and soft with flat caulking.

So anyone got any ideas on why in places the caulking is leaving a trail of mini craters apposed to the beautiful flat finish in most other areas?

 

[pmagowan]

Are we talking about deck caulking between teak boards or on the hull or what?

 

[pvb]

So anyone got any ideas on why in places the caulking is leaving a trail of mini craters apposed to the beautiful flat finish in most other areas?

It's the way it was applied; air bubbles were allowed to form in it.

 

[Adamastor]

It could also be pockets of solvent evaporating as the goop dries. It's a particular problem with the PU based caulks. It it's applied warm, the caulk seems to seal the solvent in place.

 

[itchenseadog]

Hi,

Skimming the caulking in places has revealed little holes that appear to be air pockets in the caulking. In most of the boat it looks fine and soft with flat caulking.

So anyone got any ideas on why in places the caulking is leaving a trail of mini craters apposed to the beautiful flat finish in most other areas?

What type of caulking material are you using? Is it straight out of a tube ? Or are you mixing it e.g. Arbokol?

 

[Jamesuk]

It's the way it was applied; air bubbles were allowed to form in it.

The caulking is Polyurethane, in places when skimming it on the teak deck air pockets appear buy in others it is a clean cut.

As with all boats zi was not their when it was laid so not sure the history of spplication but could probably ask the boat builder. I wo dered if the caulking would need replacning.

 

[pvb]

I wo dered if the caulking would need replacning.

It's mainly a cosmetic issue.

 

[PlankWalker]

This seems to be a common problem with 2 pack caulking,
Air in the mixed caulking slowly rises but the meniscus around the bubble is too tough for the bubble to burst.
If left to harden it will leave little craters after the surface is sanded.
A trick I use is to drag a stick along the seam just before it goes off, this will burst the bubbles and leave a flat surface.

Plank

 

[Jamesuk]

This seems to be a common problem with 2 pack caulking,
Air in the mixed caulking slowly rises but the meniscus around the bubble is too tough for the bubble to burst.
If left to harden it will leave little craters after the surface is sanded.
A trick I use is to drag a stick along the seam just before it goes off, this will burst the bubbles and leave a flat surface.

Plank

Thats great thanks, its whT i have found on a 7 year old deck that needed its caulk skimming.

 

[Jamesuk]

It's mainly a cosmetic issue.

Cheers, 10% way through its quite enjoyable doing it.