Skeg attachment

[Ted Schmidt]

I am curently building Steve Redmond's Elver canoe yawl which calls for a tapered skeg to be attached to the flat bottom. It is attached with epoxy and 10 bronze carrriage bolts through the bottom. I thought about not epoxying the skeg and just attach it with carriage bolts to facilitate removal if it is ever damaged. I am afraid if I do this It would rot the wood between the skeg and botttom joint. I plan to counter sink the bolt holes and fill them with epoxy to seal them to prevent leakage. If I do that I could not remove the skeg anyway. My question is, What do you guys think the best way is to go about attaching the skeg through the hull bottom. Is epoxy the best way to go or is there a substance that would water proof the through holes and still allow for removal in case of damage. Thanks in advance

[JimConlin]

A polysulfide sealant such as 3M #101 or BoatLife will seal the joint but be willing to be taken apart at a later date. A bedding compound would be OK, too.

[Ken Hutchins]

Does anyone else have any long term experience with the polysulfides? I used 3m 101 on a garbard plank and a year later thought I could remove it to make it easier to do other things down in the bilges. Well that plank is still in place. Pound on it with a big mallet and no go, I would have to destroy the plank to remove it. Dammed glad I decided to use Dolfinite on everything else.