Need sealant advice

[heath18703]

Hi everybody. I've got a leak along the green line I've added to this picture...

It's interior, and the joint is between the metal frame around the hatch and the inner fiberglass hull. What kind of sealant and procedure should I use to take care of this leak?

Thanks!

 

[NYSail]

Important to find the leak source outside and seal there. Otherwise all you're doing will be diverting the water to somewhere else..... Unless its a hole directly out.

 

[Ray Bowles]

NYSail is spot on. If that new leak diversion doesn't cleanly go to the outside the water can go between the layers of materials that make up the cabin sides. This leads to delamination and that is DOOM.
You might need to remove the port, clean everything up and reseal.
Good luck, Ray

 

[higgs]

You need to reseal the frame on the outside.

 

[Steve Dion]

Bradley:

You could just caulk it around the outside.

I think removing the frame and rebedding would be your best bet.

 

[richk]

I did a rebed when I had the problem and it worked.
Rich

 

[kloudie1]

Yup.. echoing.. pull it and carefully re-bed. Maine Sail's magic butyl sealant tape is a perfect cure.. It is what Hunter used originally and if you do it correctly, it will outlast the original by a longshot.

 

[Scott T-Bird]

Don't assume the leak is merely at the bottom of the frame on the outside. Surface tension enables water to follow the frame all the way around to the low point, where it collects and drips. Look for leak sources at the top of the frame on the outside or even above the light.

 

[heath18703]

I'm really glad I wrote in here because I could've really set myself up for some serious damage if I'd just thrown some sealant on there. Ok so how do I go about removing the seal? I'll have to get back on the boat to see, but I think one of the top parts of the frame may be encased into the wood wall somehow, so that might be tricky. My best guess is that I apply some silicone caulk remover to the seal and let it set for a while, then start into it with maybe a long thin razor on a handle? I'm all ears.

 

[FourPoints]

I just rebed my frame this spring as it was also leaking. You propably wont be able to use buytl on it because of the way it fits will require a liquid sealent (mine did).

While it was off I soda blasted the frame to remove everything, and sanded under the frame. I then rebed it with 3M4000UV, and put a bead of it around the outside edge as well to ensure a complete seal. Will post a few pictures later when I'm not on my phone.

I found once the frame was out most of the screw holes were compromised and had some rot, and there was a lot of leaking I wasn't aware of. I filled in lots of the frame with penetrating epoxy, about 2 cups worth of epoxy went in. Overall it took me about 3 or 4 weeks (working on weekends only, usually only one day) early spring to get this issue fixed.

 

[heath18703]

Thanks FourPoints. Soda blasting looks like it would def do the job although I don't think I'll take the time to rent and wag that kind of equipment to the boat. What type of cleaning procedure would you suggest might be comparable? Simple sanding perhaps?