What type of Sealant to use on the toe rail

[Jim]

Hello,I am going to remove the toe rail of my 1983 Hunter 22. I believe that I have a couple of small gremlin leaks that are coming from this area and around the stantions. Does anybody know what Hunter used to seal the toe rail?. My rail and stantions have never been removed. The original stuff is still flexible and grey in color. It is the stickiest stuff I've ever seen but not as runny as 5200. I thought about using 5200 on the rail but I would end up with the stuff all over myself and others by the time I got the rail back on.Any help or thoughts appreciated.JimH-22

 

[Steve Dion]

Contact Hunter

Jim:Contact Hunter. I think that they used a butyl material. It never gets hard so it flexs with the hull.Stay away from 5200 for this job. If you end up using it and you do not correct the leak, you will play hell trying to ever get it off again.

 

[okiman]

Working with Caulking

It doesn't matter is you are using 3M caulking or Sikaflex etc., cleanup is a snap using turpentine and old rags. If bedding anything, take your finger wetted with turpentine and run it along the caulk, you will get a nice smooth seal. It is easy cleaning up fittings and your hands as well. The terpentine evaporates and does not affect the caulk.Happy caulking.

 

[Dave]

Rub Rail

Are you refering to the rub rail that runs along the entire hull deck seam? We did that job last year. It made a world of difference. 5200 is used when you don't want to remove it, like the the stantions, and the deck screws. Use 4200 for the seam it self or a flexible marine silicone to fill the gap. If you trailer the boat the vibrations of the road can shake loose ridged caulk. Hope this helps. We didn't have a drop in our 85 h23 this season. Last year it was like a bathtub.

 

[Spinfisher]

Do you remove the toe rail???

Question, since my boat is out of the water and I am going around it looking and fixing stuff....Do you remove the Toe Rail and reattached with the 4200 or do you just caulk above and below the rail to seal it? I have a few spots that may be loose and a little water does come into the boat when healing..... My port glass / window is also leaking a bit....THX for the info, I did not mean to raid the thread!