Slick seam

[SeniorLady]

Anyone know why Slick Seam is no longer available? Or, in its absence, what to use instead?

[Dan McCosh]

Didn't know it isn't available. I have used toilet gasket material--the beeswax used to seat toilets--as a substitute. It's the prime component in Slick Seam, which has some additives to make it stiffer.

[SeniorLady]

I like that option!

[Canoeyawl]

Petroleum based, might leave a frowned upon oil slick around your craft
edit:soap flakes add water to a thick paste

[Pelirrojo]

Crisco works in fresh, soft soap in salt.

[SeniorLady]

We are in salt water. Bottom paint should seal the wax from the water, right? Soap shrinks as it dries. I think I would trust wax to last. I am not sure I would trust the soap.

[wizbang 13]

toilet bowl wax is not beeswax

[Canoeyawl]

toilet bowl wax is not beeswax

It is petroleum/ just thick grease, unlawful to put it in the water.

[SeniorLady]

okay. I do think I have seen wax toilet rings. I'll be sure to check contents before we use one.

[Dan McCosh]

The wax rings I used weren't "greasy" and left no residue in the water. Might note that neither Slick Seam nor the rings are intended as a seam sealant replacement. The idea is that the wax is easy knife in prior to launching a caravel-planked hull. The compound mainly squeezes out when the planking swells tight, and is easy to scrape off from the outside with a putty knife. These days, we rarely let the hull dry out, and when it does I use a normal seam compound. When I used the beeswax sealant, it was softer than SlickSeam, which made it easier to put in, but didn't have a lot of body to staying the seams compared to Slick Seam.

[Dave Hadfield]

Every hull in central Canada dries out every winter.

Drake has done it since 1947.

I guess I need to buy toilet wax.

[Garret]

Every hull in central Canada dries out every winter.

Drake has done it since 1947.

I guess I need to buy toilet wax.

Or just wax poetic?

[nedL]

Hummm,.... That’s not good.

[Larks]

a very quick google search suggests that Slick Seam is still available for sale in the US......

[Garret]

a very quick google search suggests that Slick Seam is still available for sale in the US......

Such as? Lots of places show on google, but when you go to the site, it's not available. I'd love to get a container or 2 of it if you did find somewhere.

[Larks]

the first one that comes up:
https://budgetmarine.com/catalog/boa...am-underwater/
- shows as available

[Garret]

That's in Sint Maarten - which makes me think that it might be a "not available in the US" thing. Thanks though!

[Nicholas Carey]

This place seems to have it.

https://www.stevestonmarine.com/Davi...OzCaulking-730

But I think Davis Instruments has discontinued it. Or maybe they can't get it from whoever makes it for them, due to The Plague That Lies Upon This Land.

I can find the instruction sheet on their web site, but if you look on the web site, it's not to be found as a product.

https://www.davisinstruments.com/sup...-instructions/

https://www.davisinstruments.com/

Interesting to note the product name on the link to the product page on the instruction sheet download.

DF84C2F3-C03B-4E60-816B-3F3658F2C177.jpg

[nedL]

I called Davis this morning and they confirmed it is permanently discontinued with no plans for a replacement. Not good.....

[J.Madison]

I just dug out my old container of it, was planning to trowel some into plank checks on the skiff this afternoon. Bummer it's been discontinued, it is useful stuff. Probably just not that big of a market anymore.