Re: recaulking

[argust]

Re: recaulking

I have a 21x6mts 1947 icebreaker-tug conversion which has probably pine deck ( i thought it was teak but was told its pine). she was built in sweden. The deck is watertight but the caulking needs some redoing. The putty is flaking and the oakum/cotton (not sure what it is still) can be seen as fibrous strands in places.
I want to do it myself as cant afford labour charges of 6000 as i was told....
also everybody wants to put silkaflex and i want to do it with oakum and putty.
any suggestions as to how to go about it....as i am an amateur
any advice would be helpful...
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[AndrewF]

Re: recaulking

Caulking a deck is isn't that hard. Suggest you find a book and take it from there. Normally decks are either payed with pitch or some sort of glue (unsure of its correct name) rather than putty.

 

[Peterduck]

Re: recaulking

Oakum is dark brown and looks like it came from a horse's tail. Cotton would have been white and fluffy when it went in, but will be almost anything after a few years of service. Oakum is usually reserved for below the waterline, so is unlikely to appear in a deck. The traditional method, which is still quite valid, is to caulk with cotton and pay with Jeffrey's No. 2 Marine Glue, which is a pitch. This needs to be heated until runny, and then poured from a ladle into the seams. I suspect that this can be bought from Traditional Boat Supplies.
Peter.