So, what's the word on leaky foam bulkheads in plastic boats? Mine are completely loose, so I'm going to mark their position with a marker, pop them out to take off the old loose glue and put them back in. What has anyone used with success for this operation? Seems like there are some new options for gluing plastic these days. Just used my plastic welder to seal the nose on the Sapsucker, but don't think it will work on bulkheads!! Mark Sanders www.sandmarks.net *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I've been paddling Wilderness Systems kayaks for 11 years now, most of the fleet are older models. Recent acquisitions include a 2011 Tempest 170 and a 2012 Zephyr 155, both RM. Both boats were poorly assembled with the Zephyr bordering on criminal :) I'm currently re-sealing the bulkheads in the Zephyr this evening in my living room (too cold in Wyoming to work in the unheated garage). In my experience Lexel is the best product to use. I prefer the clear version. Available in 5oz hand tubes and 10.5oz caulk-style tubes. Not fun to work with but its a good sealant. Smooth seams with a wet soapy finger or spoon. Give the stuff 4 days to achieve a good firm set - it'll continue to cure for a couple weeks. I usually give it a week before I do much with a re-sealed boat. I want that stuff to set up proper as I sure as hell don't want to do it again :) I believe if I ever order another new WS kayak I'll just have them leave the seat, braces and bulkheads out so I can install them myself properly. Not kiddin' here - its much easier to do it right from the get go than to try and fix some mental pygmy's laziness and incompetence. Once the Zephyr cures up firmly I'll move it to the garage, bring in the Tempest and start all over again. Thank you very much, Wilderness Systems. Alternative products include 3M 5200/4200 but I have no personal experience with these sealants. Good luck to you. ~Holmes >So, what's the word on leaky foam bulkheads in plastic boats? Mine are >completely loose, so I'm going to mark their position with a marker, pop >them out to take off the old loose glue and put them back in. What has >anyone used with success for this operation? Seems like there are some >new options for gluing plastic these days. > >Just used my plastic welder to seal the nose on the Sapsucker, but don't >think it will work on bulkheads!! > >Mark Sanders *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Tue, Jan 31, 2012, at 07:48 PM, Holmes wrote: > Alternative products include 3M 5200/4200 but I have no personal > experience with these sealants. I used 3M 5200 to put the weed deflector on the back of my surf ski. I got lazy/scared and didn't want to grind off the gel coat on my brand new carbon boat. So 5200 holding a carbon rectangle to gelcoat. Not even close to the same bonding requirements as plastic to foam. For what I'm using it for I'm very happy and would definitely try it in other applications. Kirk -- Kirk Olsen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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