Myth or Fact: Porthole Gaskets and Mineral Spirits/Vaseline

[Brian D]

OK all you old salts. You have a rubber gasket around your portholes. They look in good condition but are still leaking slightly. You don't think they need replacing but probably will anyway. However, to hold you off for a little while longer, you were told to clean with Mineral Spirits and then apply Vaseline. After a few hours, remove the Vaseline and your gaskets will be pliable again.

Is this a Myth or is a truism? And if there is some truth to it, why? What is the Mineral Spirits and Vaseline doing to the rubber to make it do its job?

 

[Chief RA]

Re: Myth or Fact: Porthole Gaskets and Mineral Spirits/Vasel

Brian: I probably could be classified as an "Old Salt" but have never heard about the hatch seal concept. Due to Mineral Spirits very thin oil composition and its use as paint thinner I would surmise that it does clean and remove the dried rubber (plastic) surface. Vaseline (petroleum Jelly) is an oil derivative as well and since plastic is oil based; it seems reasonable to assume that it would tend to soften the rubber surface. The vaseline left on the rubber would also help to reseal. Best I can do! Chief

 

[Gunni]

OK all you old salts. You have a rubber gasket around your portholes. They look in good condition but are still leaking slightly. You don't think they need replacing but probably will anyway. However, to hold you off for a little while longer, you were told to clean with Mineral Spirits and then apply Vaseline. After a few hours, remove the Vaseline and your gaskets will be pliable again. Is this a Myth or is a truism? And if there is some truth to it, why? What is the Mineral Spirits and Vaseline doing to the rubber to make it do its job?

With a clean cloth or paper towel dipped in soapy water clean the gaskets, AND the port surface that mate to them. Do this EVERY TIME you open your port lights. You will be amazed by the amount of deck grit that washes down and to the gasket point on the ports. Once you open the port some small fraction has the chance to foul the surface on the port or gasket and start a leak. If a clean surface doesn't seal the seepage you have a gasket or scratched/warped port problem. A temporary fix on passage is a good marine grease like MareLube...but now you have a dirt magnet...so leave your ports dogged. good luck!

 

[Delezynski]

OK all you old salts. You have a rubber gasket around your portholes. They look in good condition but are still leaking slightly. You don't think they need replacing but probably will anyway. However, to hold you off for a little while longer, you were told to clean with Mineral Spirits and then apply Vaseline. After a few hours, remove the Vaseline and your gaskets will be pliable again.

Is this a Myth or is a truism? And if there is some truth to it, why? What is the Mineral Spirits and Vaseline doing to the rubber to make it do its job?

I tried to keep my old seals working with that method. It only worked for a short time and the old rubber, if left in a port that I did not open for a time tended to "glue" the port shut!

What I did was NOT replace the old rubber seals with new rubber seal!!!!!

I replaced them with the same packing used in the prop shaft stuffing box. It has worked our GREAT! Once in a while I can add a thin coat of mineral oil to keep the seal working good.

AND, the stuffing box seal is a fraction of the cost of the rubber that did not work well.

Greg

 

[Chief RA]

Re: Myth or Fact: Porthole Gaskets and Mineral Spirits/Vasel

I would expect that bees wax applied to a seal surface would work good as well. Chief

 

[gettinthere]

Over 5 years now with a dozen of these ancient ports. Clean both surfaces with soapy water and apply a thin film of silicone grease to the gasket. Been leak free.

 

[thinwater]

a. Guuni is right; it's usually dirt. Soap and water is best, perhaps monthly. Takes seconds.

b. Silicone, wax, or oil will all make the rubber hydrophobic (water repellant). Often that is enough to keep water out of the seal.

 

[Sailm8]

Re: Myth or Fact: Porthole Gaskets and Mineral Spirits/Vasel

I believe you need KY jelly and not Vaseline. Vaseline is petroleum based and will melt the gasket. KY is water based. At least this is what I have been doing for a while.

 

[Maine Sail]

Guys 303 Aerospace Protectant is the cats meow.. Treat therm every time you open the ports, takes 60 seconds, and the rubber will last into the next century and they won't stick...

 

[centerline]

OK all you old salts. You have a rubber gasket around your portholes. They look in good condition but are still leaking slightly. You don't think they need replacing but probably will anyway. However, to hold you off for a little while longer, you were told to clean with Mineral Spirits and then apply Vaseline. After a few hours, remove the Vaseline and your gaskets will be pliable again.

Is this a Myth or is a truism? And if there is some truth to it, why? What is the Mineral Spirits and Vaseline doing to the rubber to make it do its job?

If you only need a temporary repair, why disassemble it at all....

You must have some sealer of some type available, about anything will work...
Clean the outside seam (and the surounding area) that is leaking with alcohol so whatever you use will stick....
then use tape to mask the surounding area so the tape line is within an eigth of an inch from the seam that needs sealed.... do both sides of the seam
(If it is going to be disassembled and repaired within a couple of weeks, just use the tape over the seam to hold out the water)...

But i assume you want a "permanent" temporary repair... so after you get the area masked with the seam exposed, apply the sealer to the seam......

Now you can vigorously work the sealer INTO the seam witjout getting it all over the boat....

After you get it worked in good and evened out and the excess removed, remove the tape...

You may have a very slight tape line, but if you take your finger and gently fair it out, you will never see it or the sealer.... it will look like a professional job and will last a long time.

 

[capta]

We've been using Star Bright white PTEF lube on our hatch and port gaskets about once a month and before securing them before going offshore. However, I think I'll try the 303 Aerospace Protectant Maine Sail is recommending as we have it aboard and it sounds like it will do a better job.

 

[Brian D]

So the consensus seems to be that Mineral Spirits and Vaseline will not damage my gaskets, but there are other solutions (other than replacing) leaking ports.

By the way, I did look for replacement gaskets and can only find them in Europe. My ports are Vetus PTZ and are no longer made.

However, I see a good list of products to try. So after I put my ports back in I will keep an eye open for gasket leaks and try some of the solutions you fine boaters presented.

Oh... ever notice that when Maine Sail posts some product it always has numbers?

 

[jimmcgee]

I originally learned this trick to get convertible tops to seal.

When we bought our boat in '08 all four of the opening ports on the cabin sides were leaking badly. The first time around I did each port twice. Now I follow this routine every other spring and the ports have stayed water tight.

Fill a bowl with dish soap and water. Take your time and clean your rubber seals with a dollar store wash cloth (you'll toss it when you're done). If the seals are cracked they'll need to be replaced, but if the cracking isn't bad this may get them to seal for a while. Also gently scrub the hatch where it contacts the seals to remove any dirt.

Pick up a travel size container of Vaseline (about a buck). Using your finger tips really work the Vaseline into the seals, I mean really rub it in. It should take you at least 10 minutes of rubbing to saturate the seals on a typical port.

Go have a beer, preferably two, three is fine. Let the Vaseline soak in.

Using paper towels gently wipe any excess Vaseline off the seals. Take you time, go through a bunch of paper towels and make sure you remove all the excess. Any globs left on the surface will attract dirt and cause a leak later on.

The Vaseline will swell the seals slightly and eliminate leaks. While you're at it check the hinge alignment on your hatches (if adjustable) and make sure the latches are snugging the hatch down tight.

During the next heavy rain when you're aboard crack another beer, look at your not leaking hatches and admire your work. Administer beer. In a pinch you can substitute rum.

 

[Hello Below]

I believe you need KY jelly and not Vaseline. Vaseline is petroleum based and will melt the gasket. KY is water based. At least this is what I have been doing for a while.

The Boat Galley had an article this week on Maintaining Gaskets and Weatherstripping. http://theboatgalley.com/maintaining-gaskets-and-weatherstripping/

 

[Steve Dion]

Re: Myth or Fact: Porthole Gaskets and Mineral Spirits/Vasel

I am not sure that Vaseline is the best product for "rubber" gaskets/seals. I think you would be better off with a silicone based lube.

http://www.super-lube.com/files/pdfs/Super_Lube_Compatibility_Chart.pdf

If you are cleaning older material I would think vinegar & water would be an good cleaner.

 

[Brian D]

Re: Myth or Fact: Porthole Gaskets and Mineral Spirits/Vasel

So on the Silicone Grease or Lube or whatever, do you just put on a bead and then close the ports so it will spread out and form a seal?

By the way, when I said my gaskets look good, this means they are not cracked or have any flaws, just hard and probably not seating well.

 

[Hello Below]

So on the Silicone Grease or Lube or whatever, do you just put on a bead and then close the ports so it will spread out and form a seal?

Brian, I would expect there to be little risk in attempting jimmcgee's advice. Except I would use "silicone grease or lube or whatever" rather than Vaseline. Also I would not use paper towel I would use soft rags. Paper towel may leave little bits of . . . paper. Worse case is you will have a slight hangover in the morning.

 

[rgranger]

Where is Chris P?

I half expected to see plumbers putty show up on here


:dance:

 

[RIVERCRUISER]

Where is Chris P?

I half expected to see plumbers putty show up on here


:dance:

ROFL

 

[thinwater]

The "rubber" is almost certainly neoprene; that is the case for every hatch or car door gasket I have known of. Look up chemical compatibility. Yes, silicone would probably be better, but good luck if you ever want to use adhesives in the area later.

I guess chemistry class was boring.