Locating Slick Seam

[boatstruck]

Greetings,
The guys who are refastening the bottom of my 35' sedan cruiser have requested Calahan's Slick Seam. I came across a mention of it in Trefethen's Wooden Boat Restoration, as did they. On-line I could only find Davis Slick Seam. Anyone familiar with the product?

[outofthenorm]

Same stuff. Finest kind. I use it every year. - Norm

[boatstruck]

Thanks, Norm. But now I have another question. When I read the product info on Davis, they made a special point to say the boat needed to get back into the water immediately after application. What's immediately? The bottom will need sanding, painting etc and there may be a rain day or two inbetween?

[Rich VanValkenburg]

I've used that stuff for years on Sonja's bottom. The only reason I can think of for getting back in the water quickly is that it's wax-based and does lose some of it's viscosity in summer heat on the hard. It also isn't elastic like the butyl caulks so if your seams open a little more after application, it's a good chance you'll get a few trickles. It's good stuff. Some like it, some don't.

Rich

[outofthenorm]

Boatstruck - The only thing you would worry about is heat, which isn't a big problem in our part of the world. It melts in direct strong sunlight. I've used it in bottom seams and launched weeks after application with no problem. The great thing about it is when the seam takes up, SS squeezes right out, even in cold water. Most bottom paints cover it just fine. It's versatile and very forgiving.

- Norm

[fixmyboat]

but it does ruin the chance that anything will ever bond to whatever it gets smeared on ...

[boatstruck]

Thanks for the insights on slick seam. We'll definitely use it.