With the threat of El Nino I need to re-caulk my side ports on the cabin, but I'm not sure how to take the port apart to complete the job. Afraid to back out the screws and cause a larger leak! Thanks for your help.
Caulking side ports on a Catalina 36
- Thread starter SeaMonkey25
- Start date
Depending on the year of build most opening ports on Catalinas are stock from Beckson. There are screws around the perimeter mounting plate that unscrew anti-clockwise in a straightforward manner. There will usually be a lot of past caulk that you will have to scrape out with a utility & or putty knife. It's important to have a clean mating surface on the port frame & the cabin sides for a good bond. A lot of sailors recommend using Butyl Tape to seal the seams around ports & hatches to create a tight, waterproof, yet flexible seal. Butyl tape is synthetic rubber that really never dries out & remains flexible for decades. I have never found a caulk that can withstand the salty marine environment for more then a couple of years. The older styled aluminum framed fixed windows in the main cabin are notorious for leaking. This is also a place where Butyl tape can help seal the frame to cabin side seams. But they can also leak between the glass & the inner aluminum frames. This is where clear silicone can help temporarily. But it usually requires replacing the rubber seals themselves on the aluminum type. The real problem, at least with the C-30 is that the cabin sides are not very thick or are inconsistent in thickness, which makes screwing them tightly to the openings difficult. Most of the time sailors overtighten the frames , until the aluminum begins to warp. You can order the butyl Tape online (I believe on this site) & West marine can also order it for you. If you want to go the caulk route, Dow Corning makes a caulk specifically for window installations that works. Avoid 3-M 5200 or similar caulks as they are PREMANENT & cannot be removed, ever. Good luck.
