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It looks like there is only one place that deck caulking is used, and that is on the top deck around what must be the hatch sliding mechanism/hiding place.
That panel has some sort of white caulk around the junction.
The old caulk looks to be receded and cracked. When I probe it with a sharp metal device the caulk is still soft and somewhat sticky.
Q: Should I worry about re-caulking this seam? (I have no leak, it just looks old and bad).
Q: If I decide to re-caulk, how hard is it to remove the old caulk? Do I need to?
Q: What kind of caulk should I use to re-caulk?
Thanks! (please talk me out of this task)
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—
Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay
Butyl tape, butyl tape, butyl tape.
Silicone? Only use is Beckson ports, which you skippers on C36s don't have, I have eight of them, many C34s only have two in the cockpit.
Dow 795 - for fixed port replacement bedding.
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
My '97 has no caulk or sealant of any kind along that joint. After a lengthy or heavy rain, or boarding sea, I'll get a trickle of water into the cockpit where the drainage channel exits near the companionway. I've thought of sealing it, but haven't found it necessary. Not sure if the factory added sealant at a later date, or maybe a PO added it?
While I use butyl tape for lots of stuff, I'm not sure it would work well there. You'd have to remove the entire hatch 'cover' (not sure what you'd call it) and bed it with butyl. But then there would be the seam along the top that could collect water and freeze in the winter. Sealing the seam along the top with butyl would be possible but I'm not sure how it would like constant exposure to the sun.
I agree with Stu, don't use silicone, once you do, you have to remove it to use anything else if/when it fails. That said, I did bed a stanchion base with it years ago and so far so good (before I'd heard of butyl).
Gary and Cathy Price
1997 C36 Mk II Tall Rig/Wing Keel Imagine...
Hull # 1617
Worton Creek, Md.
Northern Chesapeake Bay
Our boat had nothing in that joint when we got it and whenever it rained or we got spray on deck a lot of water came trickling down into the cockpit and made it wet on the cockpit sole and under the seat cushions which we did not like.
I filled it with a bead of polysulfide caulking and it eliminated the problem. Polysulfide (101) has better UV resistance than most polyurethane adhesive sealants and it is a pure caulk not an adhesive sealant so it should be easier to renew when needed. It was a simple half hour job and yielded a good reward in my opinion.
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Great, I like that answer. Polysulfide 101.
But one question remains: Do I struggle to remove the old stuff? Or just caulk over it?
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Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay
Haha, you probably won't like this one though! I would dig it out if it was me. Nasty job, depending on what they put in there. If you leave it in there though you are just putting lipstick on a pig, so to speak.
If you get some high concentration citrus cleaner it will help, again depending on what was put in there.
Be aware that 101 sets up very slowly, takes a couple of weeks before it cures. It is an old product and there may be other things that are better now. I just would not want to put an adhesive sealant in there, it's not necessary and it will be a beyotch to get out when it needs to be renewed.
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This product is no longer available (several different places checked).
What would be a good second choice?
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Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay
Rick, Boat Life sealants have always received good reviews
[url]http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?produ...
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
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OK, I'm going with the Boat Live Calk (caulk).
Will report back after applicaton.
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Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay