lewmar hatch sealant

[Spyro]

I need to refit the glass/perspex in my lewmar superhatch. The rubber seal is ok but I need to fill the gap around the edge between the glass and the frame. What was there already was some type of black silicone rubber. A bit of googling suggested using Dow 795 or GEsilpruf2000. It was an American site and I'm having trouble finding the product. There are so many varieties of sealant out there and I'm a bit confused by it all. It will need some sort of adhesive quality to it as it is holding the lens in the frame. Are there any other sealants that will do the job?

 

[njsail]

Hi Spyro - I've used both sealants and if you're rebedding acrylic to the hatch frame I would use the Dow 795. It flows a little nicer during rebedding. Make sure to use spacers and tape up the acrylic and frame - it makes cleanup much easier. The Silpruf is a great product as well but a little harder to work with for rebedding purposes (it may just be my perception). I used the silpruf for many years to reseal my chain plates on my old Island Packet since it adheres to stainless steel very well. Either way you'll get a nice seal. Try and avoid bubbles in the sealant when you are putting it in the crack. If you do just use a plastic putty knife (Not metal) to wipe off the excess or prick the bubble and refill. Preparation is most of the effort in the job. Unless of course you manage to get it all over the place.

Good luck and take your time to do it right.

 

[vyv_cox]

Sikaflex 295 is the product they make for the job. Details here.

 

[Spyro]

Thanks for the quick replies. The sikaflex products sounds right. Quite a price though. Think I'll be looking for something similar.

 

[GrahamM376]

I used this - https://www.angelplastics.co.uk/Products_Sub.asp?PP=494&PCT=1&U=488&N=arbo_silicones - on mine and it's fine after several years in the sun. I checked with manufacturers first that it is suitable for aluminium to perspex.

 

[Happydaze]

It was third time lucky for me as first two times i used cheap stuff. I used the Sikaflex 295 in the end but the important bit was priming the frame.

 

[GrahamM376]

It was third time lucky for me as first two times i used cheap stuff. I used the Sikaflex 295 in the end but the important bit was priming the frame.

Problem with Sika out here was 40 euro per tube! I've had no problem with the Arbo, even in up to 40 degree summer temperatures.

Adshead Ratcliffe - http://www.bpindex.co.uk/manf.html?id=81 - who make the Arbo range are one of the largest UK manufacturers of trade sealants. It may be far cheaper than Sika but it's not a "cheap" product as such. Some of their range is available through EC Smith but I guess most chandlers don't stock it due to lower mark-up potential. I don't like being ripped off.