Hatches and port lights
- Thread starter gsfaulk
- Start date
I will be replacing 5 portlights and removing and resealing the other 4 on my H30. I can only hope he didn't use 5200 or my job is going to really suck. I plan on using butyl tape around the inner trim flange and then use white Dow 795 to fill in the outer gap and outside trim ring. I could use 795 on the inside flange too but figure the butyl tape will be less messy.
Take a look at butyl. It is what they put the deck to hull together on the Cheruibinis.
You want to be sure that whatever you use is compatible with the two products that you are rebedding.
You want to be sure that whatever you use is compatible with the two products that you are rebedding.
Why are you not using Butyl tape for the exterior seal.? I used it for my windows and it worked very well. It's flexible enough to seal, even when different rates of expansion are present, like fiberglass and metal. They seal car windsheilds with it and it lasts for 25 years. I seal nearly everything with it and have no leaks. We bail the bilge with a sponge every once in a while. Darn condensation.
The design of the Gray portlights on the Cherubini's leaves a fairly sizable gap that needs to be filled from the outside. I guess you can press butyl tape into it but seems to me to be easier just to pump 795 into the gap and totally fill it. These ports are installed from the inside and has no exterior flange that seals. The ring on the outside is a loose piece and is just a trim ring. I do plan on using Maine Sails butyl tape to reseal my hatches, chainplates etc.
where there is a gap present, the butyl can be layered in that area to achieve a proper fit. UNLESS there is a lot of stress present, but in a portlight there should be no working stress to worry about.
Either way...it's up to you. The 795 sealant is good stuff...stays flexible. I just don't want to use up all my butyl tape on one portlight. On my 18" port we're talking 52" circumference. I want my gap totally filled so we are talking 52" x many more wraps to fill.
