Deck-hull sealing

[Graham_Wright]

I am about to attach the rubbing strake (topped with a "D" rubber) to my GRP hull. The deck overlaps the hull by about 3" leaving a vertical gap between the two which needs to be filled.

Question;- hod do I inject mastic upwards without it running off my elbows? Is there an alternative which is less runny or a semi-solid mastic which can be rammed in the gap?

Very grateful for any suggestions as usual.

 

[fluffc]

Sikaflex. But don't expect to ever be able to remove it!

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Graham,

Any chance of a picture, any fasteners to be seen or is the deck glassed to the hull on the inside only?

Avagoodweekend......

 

[Graham_Wright]

The deck is lapped over the hull with an overlap of around 3". The join is sealed on the inside by glassing. The gap on the outside varies between 2 to 5 mm. The rubbing strake will be through bolted every 150mm with pan head M8 screws onto penny washers on the inside. The rubbing strake is Iroko (I think) and the D-section rubber will be bolted on with the same M8 bolts.

I am happy there will be no water ingress into the boat interior but don't like leaving a raw glass edge and an invisible cavity. I guess something like tarred hemp worked in the past for forcing into the gap but perhaps there exists something a little more modern today! Any mastic I have used (including various grades of Sikaflex) seem happier heading downwards than upwards and a 33 footer weighing a few tons is not easy to invert!

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Graham,

The perfect method would be to coat the raw glass with a flow coat, the predrill all the holes 5 mm oversize and fill with epoxy mixed with Micro-Fibres; this will avoid the problem of raw glass inside the holes and reduce the chance leaks.

Bostic fast cure caulking compound will fill the void and not sag, I would fill the void let it cure and drill the new holes thru' it if required but add a good dob of more compound as each screw was fitted.

Have you considered thru' bolting, a lot stronger than screws and penny washers.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[Graham_Wright]

[ QUOTE ]
G'day Graham,

Have you considered thru' bolting, a lot stronger than screws and penny washers.

Avagoodweekend......

[/ QUOTE ]

Er;- did you read the post?!!!!! Through bolted pan head M8!

But thanks for your help especially the non-sag caulking.