which sikaflex?

[gwebster]

I need to remove and replace a hatch.

Also to rake out the sealant around the top of the fin keel and replace.

Any ideas which Sikaflex or other sealant to use, please?

Thanks.

 

[VicS]

291 I would thnk

Sikaflex Marine Handbook: http://www.bluemoment.com/downloads/sikaflexmarinehandbook.pdf

Sikaflex Users Guide: http://www.bluemoment.com/downloads/sikaflexusersguide.pdf

 

[PabloPicasso]

Tek 7 I've found to be better the sick a flex. It's a polymer sealant adhesive and works in the wet even under water, is half the price of sica and available in most builders merchants.

 

[V1701]

Also could use CT1 - see here http://www.ct1ltd.com/ct1-applications.html

 

[cygnusv]

Tek 7 I've found to be better the sick a flex. It's a polymer sealant adhesive and works in the wet even under water, is half the price of sica and available in most builders merchants.

+1 for sealant adhesive. Soudal do one and it by far outperforms Sika - magic stuff

 

[rivonia]

Also could use CT1 - see here http://www.ct1ltd.com/ct1-applications.html

+1 Brilliant stuff and so easy to use.

 

[laika]

Useful info on sealant in some of the replies, particularly johnlilley's, to a question I asked recently:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?367525-Sealant-PU-Silicone-Butyl-etc-use-cases
And here was where I asked about sealant to use around an aluminium framed window:
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?364950-Sealing-windows-urgent-advice-appreciated
..which has some similar replies to this thread.

There was also a recent thread about sealant to use for the keel in which people variously advocated sikaflex 291 and not sikaflex 291.

Personally I've used 291 for aluminium framed hatches. The only downside is that if you have to remove it again, it will be hard work. Fortunately I've not had to re-do any window or hatch I've bedded in with 291.

 

[30boat]

My totally leak free (for 10 years)forehatch was laid on a bed of,imagine,silicone sealant.I laid a thickish layer of the stuff and allowed it to go off and immediately before fitting I spread another layer of silicone.Waited for an hour or so and tightened.The masking tape was removed and the excess sealant trimmed with a knife.I used the best quality I could stuff find but this proves that providing the fitting is clamped down there's no need gor an adhesive sealant.

 

[SimonD]

For the hatch, I wouldn't use Sikaflex (or any other kind of sealant) and haven't since I read this article: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware&page=1 Butyl tape is the way to go. I bought a roll from ebay.

 

[PabloPicasso]

Yes I have to say after reading the article I agree. Not sica, not silicone, not even tek7! Butyl tape is the way to go

 

[northwind]

Yes I have to say after reading the article I agree. Not sica, not silicone, not even tek7! Butyl tape is the way to go

+ 1

Buytl tape is great, did my bolted on windows over the winter with it, and just reseated a stanchion on it too, easy to use.

 

[tudorsailor]

Is all butyl tape the same or shall I look for something specific? There are many makes and types on Amazon.

How easy is it to get fittings apart held with butyl tape. I recently had to removed a box held with Sikalflex and it was a nightmare. Would butyl tape be easier?

Tudorsailor

 

[Bobc]

Use ABROMAST Butyl sealant. This stuff:- http://www.marinesuperstore.com/item/06030/arbo-mast-br-sealant-grey

Nice big bead around the hatch lip, then pop it in, and press it down. Put the screws in and lightly tighten. Scrap the excess away with a screwdriver, then clean the carp off with white spirit.

It doesn't go hard, and isn't an adhesive, so if you ever need to get a hatch out in future, you can.

My windows and hatches all had butyl foam behind and all leaked (after 10 years, it had all gone dry). I took them all out and re-bedded them with this stuff. It seals brilliantly, and looks tidy.

 

[northwind]

Is all butyl tape the same or shall I look for something specific? There are many makes and types on Amazon.

How easy is it to get fittings apart held with butyl tape. I recently had to removed a box held with Sikalflex and it was a nightmare. Would butyl tape be easier?

Tudorsailor

Buytl doesn't go off, so is easy to get apart again.

I used some glazing tape like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Arboseal-Butyl-Glazing-Tape-Black-12-Metres-15mm-x-3mm-/161067040805?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2580580025

Cut to length what you need and then apply to the item to be sealed, and then removed the backing tape. The advantage of the tape is that it can be stored easily.

 

[Trundlebug]

I was impressed with the brilliant idea put into action by a friend on his boat.

He too wasn't impressed by all the fancy hype surrounding Sikaflex, that amounts to a gooey black mess.
It's overrated and over priced, with a shorter life than they will admit to.

When he resealed his windows recently, he used, wait for it, LINSEED OIL PUTTY.
A tub cost about £1 and did all his windows.
None of them leak.
He said if it lasts a year and he has to redo them, it's still as good as Sikaflex but a damn sight easier to work with!

The genius of simplicity.

(With apologies to the OP for the thread drift, who I know was asking about sealing a hatch rather than windows).