Sealing the glass in a wood hatch

[drbill]

Gang, hoping that there is a boatwright listening (aka reading), I have removed the hatch (mahogany)from the foredeck of my Conqueror, removed the glass circle, and have cleaned out all the old caulk and varnished the frame. While I wait for the varnish to dry., I would like to find out what the best and most long-lasting sealant is to bed the glass. When I bought the boat nine years ago, it leaked, At that time I dug out old, dried Dolfinite, and bedded the glass in BoatLife. It has remained rubbery, but yet the hatch leaked when it rained two weeks ago, and I watched it coming in around the glass. The newer Dolfinite, thanks to the EPA in its infinite wisdom, is not nearly as good as it once was. I wonder about the new Marine 3-M silicone? Sikaflex? putty from Ace Hardware? The last item was still going strong in our Utah house after forty years when we moved to CA.

[ 06-14-2002, 01:27 AM: Message edited by: drbill ]

[Ken Liden]

I used sikaflex with very good results. Be sure to use thier primer for glass. Sikaflex is a major supplier to oem Detroit auto makers.

[Scott Rosen]

I vote for Sikaflex. It works on my forehatch.

[drbill]

Thanks. I cannot find glass primer at West Marine or Svendsens for Sikaflex, nor can I find Sikaflex 296, which is supposed to be for sealing glass, portholes,etc. Can I use CPES as a
primer? Would auto supply houses have anything that will work? I have to get this hatch back together tomorrow and back on the boat Sunday, as I will be leaving for an extended period of time. Thanks again.

[ 06-15-2002, 02:14 AM: Message edited by: drbill ]

[Scott Rosen]

You can order the Sika from Jamestown Distributors. www.jamestowndistributors.com (http://www.jamestowndistributors.com)