Association Forum - Companionway trim question

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Companionway trim question

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

woodyoureally
Deckhand

Member Avatar

USA
8 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/21/2016 : 11:16:23

In the midst of refitting an 82 Catalina 25. I took off the interior pieces of companionway trim. Removed the screws and there was some type of adhesive/sealant holding them on. I was able to get them off with a bit of tugging. The adhesive didn't seem to be doing a lot to hold them on. I have cleaned all putty off the wood and fiberglass.

My question is on the reinstall... What is that adhesive? Is it supposed to be there or was it something a previous owner put in? Perhaps to stop some leaking? Should I use an adhesive to reattach or just the screw? Butyl tape? 4200?

Thank you in advance!

82 Catalina swing keel. Standard rig. Honda 9.9 XL OB

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2016 : 15:19:07

Mine had some dark amber goop that I believe was from the factory. I doubt it was intended as an adhesive--more as a sealant. The screws hold the wood in place. So after cleaning it all off (messy) I used my old standard: Boatlife Life Caulk, which will make things a lot easier for Bruce Ross.

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 03/21/2016 15:20:36

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

Members Avatar

USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2016 : 16:07:50

Even if you like butyl tape, I would suggest polysulfide like Dave B. This is really an application where polysulfide is a once and forget it for this lifetime. And its really easy to remove if you decide to take them off again for any reason.

Dave B. aboard Pearl
1982 TR/SK/Trad. #3399
Lake Erie/Florida Panhandle

woodyoureally
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
8 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2016 : 05:18:38

Polysulfide it is. Thank you.

82 Catalina swing keel. Standard rig. Honda 9.9 XL OB

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/22/2016 : 06:59:23

Yup--that's what Life Caulk is. I should have been more generic.

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

Captmorgan
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
220 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2016 : 16:38:55

just curious why life caulk vers Silcone does it
age better?
working with is is better?
Compatible with Fiberglass better?

"The Gal-Way" 1985 SR/SK Barnegat Bay, NJ

Enjoy Sailing =) Be Safe

Happy Sailing - John

Photo Album

Captmorgan
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
220 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2016 : 16:45:13

I found this but would like to know more

"The Gal-Way" 1985 SR/SK Barnegat Bay, NJ

Enjoy Sailing =) Be Safe

Happy Sailing - John

Photo Album

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2016 : 18:34:48

Silicone sealer has its uses... However, for most marine applications, it has some significant drawbacks (as hinted in the chart above):

1. Most things you do on a boat, you want to be able to un-do and re-do from time to time. Silicone is not a dangerous adhesive like 3M 5200, which should require a license to use... But when it is "removed", it never quite completely goes away. The residue is almost impossible to remove from some materials, like wood, and affects the adhesion of anything that follows, including silicone.

2. Silicone sealer degrades in sunlight, turning brownish in color and losing its strength. That turns out to be about the only cure for the problem described in (1), but it takes a while.

Most other poly-whatever (polyether, polysulfide, polyurethane) caulks are more UV tolerant and remove relatively completely--polysulfide being the best in that regard by my experience. I recommend it for bedding anything that might need removal any time in the future. Polyurethanes are the most adhesive, and the strongest polyurethane, 5200, is tenacious to the point of ripping off gelcoat when hardware is removed. Its proper use is for permanent joints like fixed keels to hulls--in other words, by the builder of the boat. Other uses will result in future owners wishing they could find the person who used it.

Nuff said.

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

pearson39b
1st Mate

Members Avatar

93 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2016 : 18:35:08

My experience with silicone was so bad I would never consider using it again. I replaced all the ports of a previous sailboat, and used silicone on all of them. It was almost impossible to not get where I didn't want it, and the clean up was a nightmare. Over time, it started degrading, but luckily I sold the boat before I had to redo the ports.

I've also removed ports, hatchs, windlasses and other equipment that was held on by silicone and suffered more frustration with it's total removal than any other part of those projects.

In my opinion, it's just nasty stuff...

Sailor Jerry
C-25 "Sea Song"
1978, SK, Std.
Pepin, WI

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2016 : 18:45:50

One more thing regarding the chart: Silicone is mentioned for bedding plastics, while polysulfide is incompatible... I recommend a hybrid called Life Seal by Boatlife, which is part silicone and part polyurethane. It seems to avoid the shortcomings both materials, and is compatible with plastics.

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

pearson39b
1st Mate

Members Avatar

93 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2016 : 11:31:05

quote:

5200, is tenacious to the point of ripping off gelcoat when hardware is removed. Its proper use is for permanent joints like fixed keels to hulls--in other words, by the builder of the boat. Other uses will result in future owners wishing they could find the person who used it.

quote:

This discussion reminded me that a friend had recommended a product called "De bond" to break down 5200. I've never used it, but used to have some on hand just in case I needed it. Seems I no longer do, but in searching for a replacement, I ran across a product called "Un-hesive" that claims to do the same thing. Does anyone here have any experience with either?

Experience tells me there will come a time when I have to face cured 5200 again, and I would sure like to have something to help out when that happens.

Sailor Jerry
C-25 "Sea Song"
1978, SK, Std.
Pepin, WI

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2016 : 15:11:56

My question is whether any of these products can affect 5200 that's compressed between a piece of hardware (or wood) and some fiberglass. Maybe after you've ripped the pieces apart, removing gelcoat in the process, as I once did.

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

Akenumber
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
247 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2016 : 21:32:29

Yes, yes we all agree 5200 is the goto for newbees, and has its place. Rarely. I was once There.

Ken
San Diego
84 C25 SR/FK 4116
The KRAKEN

Bladeswell
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
490 Posts

Response Posted - 03/30/2016 : 22:02:53

Hello Everyone,

Just today I was removing the teak trim above and to port and starboard of the companion way. The first one wasn't very difficult to get off, but the one to starboard was on so tight that tho I was doing my best to pry gently a little at a time it broke in two different places. Not clean breaks but enough that I will have to try to repair it or make a new one. And yes, when it finally came away it took some gel coat with it. So I can only assume that it was put on with 5200. At the same time I discovered that the companion way trim that holds in the hatch boards are each a different size. One is sized for 3/4" hatch boards and the other for 1/2" boards. I can clearly see that the 1/2" side was a patch job repair so my bet is that it too was put on with 5200. That's not going to be fun. Good sailing all.

Bladeswell

C25 TR FK Hull #973 1979 L-Dinette. So.Cal.

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2016 : 06:39:55

Ya, Bladeswell--somebody replaced something before you. Catalina didn't use 5200 for bedding trim (thankfully). I know another builder who did.

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.