Boat Buzz

Did some bottom seam filling with standard cure 5200. How long to wait until I can paint? Boat is outside in 45 to 60 degree temps. Thanks

Sounds like it is too late for this comment, but 5200 should not be used as a seam seal, In My Humble Opinion.

Dig it out before it dries if you can.

5200 expands as it dries and can put stress on the nearby wood planks.

I guess it depends how much you applied to the joints.

If you end up leaving it then you should wait 2 or 3 days and then look at the seams and see if the 5200 is proud of the joints. You may want to trim it flush before painting.

Mark

I am with Troy....and most old timers. John in Va

I get the impression that there is disagreement with the 5200 idea. Here's what I did.
Actually, I took a Dremel with cone shaped bit and took out about 1/8" to 1/4" deep surface valley between planks. Filled "valley" with 5200. Didn't force it, just let ut flow as you would do with caulking. Wiped down and cleaned up excess with acetone. Smooth surface: no sanding required. Been sitting 3-4 days with no changes in surface.

The trouble is not the expansion of the 5200 (IMHO), but when the wood swells it will expand and 5200 does not give so you may end up with buckling or other problems.

Most boats under 30' don't need any caulk at all, just some pre-soak to swell the wood before launch.

If one does need to caulk one should use a pliable product that never really hardens like Davis - Slick Seam.

Again this is just my opinion. I am not a professional restorer and do not do this for a living.

Okay so what did you remove with the dremel bit ? Wood ? 5200 ? Something else ?

Are your bottom planks fairly new and sealed properly or old and still swell when wet ?

Mark

5200 is an adhesive not a caulk. I get why folks try it, but I am scared of it in that application.
John in Va.

The bottom appears that it might be original. Most planks were tight; some had 1/16 to 1/8" gap. Used dremel sparingly. Didn't push 5200 into seams, so I'm not too worried about expanding planks buckeling.
The boat is trailered , so don't have luxury of soak. As hull has plywood inner liner, just want to get hull as leak free as possible. We'll see how this whole thing works out when we get her in the water.

Okay Troy - you win. You must be psychic.

Mark

mbigpops wrote: ↑

Mon May 20, 2019 5:06 pm

Okay Troy - you win. You must be psychic.

Mark

Not psychic, just dealing with old original style bottoms myself. One of the challenges with forums is we all give advice from the experience we have and often don't have enough information to give educated advise. Had this actually been a newer 5200 bottom I would have been off.

Overall I agree with John. 5200 is an adhesive not a caulk. If you want to use a caulk from a tube I would consider Boat Life - Life Caulk. Far more flexible when it is dry, but I still prefer Slick Seam.

trebot wrote: ↑

Mon May 20, 2019 4:47 pm

The boat is trailered , so don't have luxury of soak.

I soak with a garden hose. Spraying the hull inside and out (not filling the boat with water) while on the trailer.

soaker hose inside....will help an amazing bit.
John in Va.