What is used to seal between the hull and cockpit seam

[bluesman]

I bought a new (used boat and I am wondering what is the material that is used to seal between the hull and the cockpit molded fiberglass sections of my daysailer. Here is a picture looking upwards at the seam where the two molded parts are joined all around the rub rail area. The material in question is lighter colored It is like a filler material. Is seems almost like soft bondo. Some areas of the boat need to have this material redone where it has cracked and separated.



What is this material ? , I want to buys some of this filler so I can do the repairs.

 

[jepomer]

This article from "Good Old Boat" describes the differing materials.

The hull/deck seals are typically a polysulfide or polyurethane material. On an old Laser, I used epoxy to provide added rigidity — but it won't ever come apart!

http://www.goodoldboat.org/reader_services/articles/sealant.php

 

[bluesman]

That article on adhesives and sealants is very informitive. Thanks.

It sounds like something with some flexibility would do the trick like 3M 5200 or even 4200.

I am wondering if when the factory made the boat and joined the two halves together if they used other material to glue them together and then this seam was filled with a softer material as a cosmetic and water tight finish seam? Otherwise is the material that I am seeing failing the entirety of the bonding material used to attach the hull to deck??

I searched on hull to deck separations and read some stories about for decks peeling back under the stress of a fore stay due to this bond failure so it seems like maybe this seam filler is the total glue used to bond the two halves?

 

[Sunbird22358]

My VERY best advice is to contact Cape Cod Shipbuilding!!
They built the boat, they will know what they used to fasten the hull and deck together. They would really be your best source for this info.

I know that O'DAY used a resin slurry to bond hte hull and deck of the DS II and DS III together and I repaired mine using a sealant from Rulle Industries (will needto check as to what exact type it was. However, that was an o'DAY, CCSB may have used something else.
Here is their web-site, the phone number will be on the site. They wil lbe more than willing to answer any questions and they have e-mail as well.
www.capecodshipbuilding.com

 

[bluesman]

I did contact them and they were helpful. I am planning on among the repairs with west systems Six10 premixed epoxy. I talked with west systems as well as CCSB and it seems like a good plan. Thamks