how to address my seams

[THE VICTORIA]

Im hauling out this week for some shaft work I will be doing some painting and would like some advice on calking below the water line. The bilge is reasonably dry now .I am unfamiliar on the proper way to calk the seems .The boat will be going back in the water for the winter. thanks

[Art Read]

"Caulking" is a term that often used pretty loosely. If you just mean the putty that smooths over the gaps, it probably will just want a little smoothing up and patching. No big deal. If you're talking talking about the cotton "threads" that actually fill and bulk out the insides of the seams tread carefully! If your bilge is "relativly dry now", for God's sake, DON'T re-caulk! Sand/scrape her bottom as smooth as you need or want it to be, GENTLY scrape out any dried up/flaking seam putty and replace with with good, old fashioned more of the same. (Interlux's "Below the Waterline", seam compound seems to work well.) Leave the old cotton in there and don't pick at it unless it's just falling out on it's own. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Caulking, (the cotton stuff), is actually a structural part of the hull. Too little, too loose and she leaks like a sieve and will work herself to pieces in a hard sea. Too much, too tight and and she'll burst herself like a ruptured duck when she swells up again. Nothing to be taken on by anyone who doesn't have the "feel" in a quick haulout...

[This message has been edited by Art Read (edited 10-15-2001).]

[Ross Faneuf]

The old-time authorities agree that the best we to address your seams is:

"Esteemed honorable sirs" ...

http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/smile.gif

[TomRobb]

http://media5.hypernet.com/~dick/ubb/biggrin.gif