should I seal the wood before bedding?

[dmede]

I am buiding Harry Bryans 12' Fiddle head canoe out of Western Red Cedar. I am near putting on the deck covers which cover the water tight compartments at each end and slightly overlap the side covers, which run around the entire boat. The side covers are epoxied down over the carlins but the deck covers that go over them are to be bedded in silicon and screwed in so they may be removed in case repairs are needed.

My question is, where the deck cover overlaps the side cover (about a 1/2" - 3/4" overlap) should I bed the deck cover directly to the raw wood underneath or should I seal the overlap area first (with varnish or epoxy)?

The underside of the deck cover is already epoxy sealed as is the under side of the side cover. Harry says to bed the deck covers in paintable silicon. Once complete I will be varnishing the decks and side covers.

thanks,
dave

note: you can see the side covers here, the deck covers go over the open triangles in each end (2 per end).

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid187/p7062faddaeab33675733e785d8028d75/f2472865.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid187/p2232ed44581ad448a0ce721d70105cd7/f24728a4.jpg

[ 09-16-2005, 03:00 PM: Message edited by: dmede ]

[Bob Smalser]

By all means seal that decking before applying goo....otherwise whenever it's time to replace the sealant it'll take a lam or two with it. I like epoxy primer on plywood....you could do just the undersides if you plan to finish bright. That surplus store you passed in Chimicum sells USN surplus epoxy primer for 40 bucks for a 2-gallon kit.

And I'd trust "paintable" silicone's ability to hold paint about as far as I could throw it. 3M 5200 doesn't like paint, either.

http://pic3.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/7534648/98698786.jpg

I use Vulkem Poly Sealant for such applications because it comes in colors and takes paint well. 3 bucks or so a tube by the case. It's adhesive, but not near as aggressive as 5200...and when applied between painted surfaces they come apart OK with a little heat and leverage.

You might ask Mike F. how he thinks his PL Door and Window Sealant would do for you. Look at his Skipjack thread.

[ 09-16-2005, 04:06 PM: Message edited by: Bob Smalser ]

[dmede]

Thanks Bob, the deck and side pieces are actually 3/16" solid WRC (as are the planks, but thicker).

Ive already coated the undersides of the side and deck pieces per Harry Bryans instructions. I think I'll just tape off the overlap area on the side covers and epoxy coat that area before bedding the deck pieces. It seemed like the right thing to do but Harry didn't include it in the instructions and he has so far been very complete in his details so I thought I'd check.

Thanks for the bedding tip.

[StevenBauer]

She's looking great Dave! Nice job.

Steven

[Farmer Diddley]

Looks great! Keep us posted on your progress. I hope to build a Fiddlehead for my daughter someday.

[Cosmo Lengro]

;)