Toe rail sealant ?

[Boo2]

Hi,

My survey report says that "a black sealant has been applied between the base of the rail and the gunnel. This has become hard and cracked." It recommends raking it out and renewing it, can anyone tell me what would be the best stuff to use ? I need something that will be compatible with the 35 year old original sealant.

Thanks,

Boo2

 

[Tranona]

Ask the surveyor. Difficult to say without knowing what the original sealer is and in particular whether this is cosmetic or the seal has failed and could leak.

 

[prv]

Sikaflex seems like the obvious answer.

Pete

 

[vyv_cox]

Sika make a variety of products for this type of job, dependent upon the materials of construction and the precise application. Information here.

The caulking of my Marinedeck 2000 was done in a different product, perhaps Sikaflex 290, i don't remember, but otherwise I use 291 for almost all such jobs.

 

[KellysEye]

>It recommends raking it out and renewing it, can anyone tell me what would be the best stuff to use ? I need something that will be compatible with the 35 year old original sealant.

If you rake the old sealant out the new one doesn't need to be compatible. As said, Sikaflex is the way to go.

 

[Tranona]

>It recommends raking it out and renewing it, can anyone tell me what would be the best stuff to use ? I need something that will be compatible with the 35 year old original sealant.

If you rake the old sealant out the new one doesn't need to be compatible. As said, Sikaflex is the way to go.

However, don't think the sealant is just filling a gap. The toerail is bedded down with sealant so if the sealant has failed then the toerail should be removed and rebedded. It can't just be "raked out".

 

[fireball]

Doesn't that depend on why it's failed - if its UV degraded then only the exposed bits will have 'failed' and the bits actually doing the job should still be ok - if that's the case then just rake out the bits that have hardened and apply a new fillet along the toerail ...
Sounds simple .... it won't be though!

 

[Tranona]

Doesn't that depend on why it's failed - if its UV degraded then only the exposed bits will have 'failed' and the bits actually doing the job should still be ok - if that's the case then just rake out the bits that have hardened and apply a new fillet along the toerail ...
Sounds simple .... it won't be though!

Exactly! Thats why he needs clarification from the surveyor. You only want to do that job once.

 

[savageseadog]

It can be quite a lengthy job replacing a toe rail, you don't want the Sikaflex curing before the toe rail is secure so you need a product with a long cure time.

 

[Boo2]

If you rake the old sealant out the new one doesn't need to be compatible. As said, Sikaflex is the way to go.

I'm not going to be able to rake it all out without completely removing the toe rail which I don't really want to do. I'm thinking alone the lines of Fireball here because when thinking of descriptions of my surveyor, the words "reticent, circumspect etc" do not spring to mind - if he'd thought I should remove and re-bed the toe rail he would have said so...

So whatever I do put in must be compatible with what was there before. It sounds like Sikaflex 291 or 292 are the choices but I can't really tell from their website which is the stuff to use, any comments ?

Thanks,

Boo2

 

[savageseadog]

If its leaking, forget "raking it out" it will only work temporarily (if you're lucky). However strong the boat there will be flexing and movement that will break a laid-on sealing bead.

 

[vyv_cox]

So whatever I do put in must be compatible with what was there before. It sounds like Sikaflex 291 or 292 are the choices but I can't really tell from their website which is the stuff to use, any comments ?

Thanks,

Boo2

Based solely on the datasheets for the two products, the better one for your job would seem to be 292. This one has
- Good gap filling properties
- Capable of withstanding high dynamic stresses
which are not listed for 291.

291 can be overpainted but that is presumably not important. Otherwise they are very similar. Both are claimed to have good adhesion and the same chemical base.

 

[Tranona]

So whatever I do put in must be compatible with what was there before. It sounds like Sikaflex 291 or 292 are the choices but I can't really tell from their website which is the stuff to use, any comments ?

Thanks,

Boo2

Not sure about the "compatibility" bit - firstly because Sikaflex type fillers were not used when the boat was built. It is probably a polysulphide, but it is almost impossible to tell just by looking at it.

On the other hand, if it is just cosmetic and not required to seal the toerail joint then Sika will do the job as it will adhere to the aluminum and GRP.

 

[minkysailing]

You need to ask for clarification from your surveyor...simply raking out visible sealant is pointless. Did your surveyor identify signs of leakage? If so the toe rail will need re-bedding. Sikaflex 291 as already suggested is a recommended sealant or similar.