• We apologize for the somewhat convoluted sign-up process. Due to ever-more sophisticated attacks by chatbots, we had to increase our filtering in order to weed out AI while letting humans through. It's a nuisance, but a necessary one in order to keep the level of discourse on the forums authentic and useful. From the actual humans using WCP, thanks for your understanding!

Sealing Bulkheads

B

blueswallow

Paddler
Joined
Jul 9, 2012
Messages
49
I have a senior Necky Swallow with slight leak at rear bulkhead. I resealed it may years ago with silicone and has been dry until now. Now reading Lexel is the preferred product to use?? But the bulkhead is foam and Lexel not recommended for foam?? Also should I try just more sealant at leak area, or pull out all old silicone and start again?
If using Lexel, do you need to wait 1-2 weeks before it gets wet.
Thanks very much.
 
Lexel has solvents in it which will melt CERTAIN foams, minicell as is often used in kayaks should have no problem.
You can apply it to wet surfaces, but best adhesion is on dry clean surfaces. For non structural stuff I'd be happy to get it wet after a day or two.
 
I'd clean the boat side of the joint (not the foam) with silicone remover before using new sealant. Necky used Kop-R-Lastic sealant on their foam bulkheads, according to a friend who worked at Necky. It's difficult to find, but my online searching indicated that Stone Mason Gutter and Siding Sealant (from Home Depot) is the same product. I used it to re-seal bulkheads on a Necky Tesla and it worked well, though the smell persisted for a week or so. One excellent property of Kop-R-Lastic is that it is strong and can be pulled free 'like a rope' when removal is required. The original foam bulkheads in that Tesla were grey lightweight foam (Ethafoam?), not minicell, and the foam had shrunk over the (many) years, pulling away from the hull. I made one new bulkhead and added a band of new foam around the edge of the other, and glued them in and sealed them with generous applications of the StoneMason sealant.

mini-DSCN3535.JPGmini-DSCN3536.JPGtesla aft BH.JPGtesla front BH.JPG
 
Thanks very much for your reply, you are always so helpful. I have managed to get the silicone out (not easy as I did a good job of putting it in!).
Do you think the Stone Mason product would be superior to Lexel? The foam is light grey like you describe Thanks
 
blueswallow said:
Thanks very much for your reply, you are always so helpful. I have managed to get the silicone out (not easy as I did a good job of putting it in!).
Do you think the Stone Mason product would be superior to Lexel? The foam is light grey like you describe Thanks
Click to expand...
Probably either would work, but the StoneMason is more like the original product, and it is cheaper. Either will take some time to cure, so if you can leave the boat out in the sun with the hatch cover off, it will help.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top