I suspect the bases of the pulpit where they bolt to the deck have leaks. I would like to remove and refit and seal.
Regardless os cost what is the absolute best sealant. I know everyone talks of SIKA but is there anything better. And if it is SIKA, what type. Probably does'nt need to be UV resistant to an extent.
cheers
Not sure if this is what you are after, but here is a great guide on using butyl tape for bedding deck hardware.
www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-maintenance/63554-bedding-deck-hardware-butyl-tape.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=25
Can someone please remind me why we cant use Roof & Gutter silicone on boats?. the grey one has excellent UV resistance (far better than sika291).
If the reason is because nothing sticks to silicone(or where it has been), im still not seeing a problem as silicone lasts for 20yrs when applied right.
cheers
Select to expand quoteBlueMoon said..
Can someone please remind me why we cant use Roof & Gutter silicone on boats?. the grey one has excellent UV resistance (far better than sika291).
If the reason is because nothing sticks to silicone(or where it has been), im still not seeing a problem as silicone lasts for 20yrs when applied right.
cheers
good question BlueMoon ! I used black silicon to replace the rubber seals in the old windows ...... try doing that with sikaflex !
silicon has great adhesion and a better plus and minus movement capability than polyurethane [ sikaflex ]
i do think that below the waterline there may be better products than silicon to use
its a mine field of sealants out there now ..... i could easily spend all day reading the data on this crap !!!! and still be confused !!!!
Select to expand quoteBlueMoon said..
Can someone please remind me why we cant use Roof & Gutter silicone on boats?. the grey one has excellent UV resistance (far better than sika291).
If the reason is because nothing sticks to silicone(or where it has been), im still not seeing a problem as silicone lasts for 20yrs when applied right.
cheers
Because it has silicone in it. Silicone is good for fish tanks and some engine gaskets but otherwise should not get near a boat.
Been using T-REX adhesive sealant for a while now, sticks like s#!t to a blanket ! So far anyway 
Looks like the FixTech FixSeal MSP15 - White is the way to go.
Any reason you would use this over SIKA 291 (other than it shrinks by 5%)
If the sealant is going to be in compression between the base plate and the deck (ie. strong adhesion not needed), then pretty much any compound that will NOT HARDEN over time should make a seal if you apply it nicely.
I think Sika 291 and Fixtech will work much the same in that application, so if I had one I would use it instead of buying another.
Silicone will also work since it remains nice and soft (maybe even more so that the others), but once silicone has touched that area of deck, we all know it would be difficult to get paint or even an epoxy repair to stick to that area in future. So nothing wrong with the performance of silicone in a compression seal like that, just the risk that you may want to remove it and get anything else to stick to that surface in future would put most boat owners off using it.
Butyl, butyl, buty, butyl , butyl.
I have rebedded virtually everything on the deck of my Compass 28 with butyl, and the only leak I've had in over 6 years, including Bass Strait cruising, was the one I stuffed up!
Butyl never goes off on the shelf, won't get all over you and everything else, lasts forever, works.
w
But isn't Butyl it a tape?
I need a paste so it will squeeze down the holes and seal around the screws/bolts.
Yep, I vote for Butyl Tape as well. You put the screw through what ever you are screwing to the deck and then wrap brutal tape around the thread near the deck fitting) before putting it in the hole. The excess just squeezes out. You can also line the underside of your deck fittings with brutal tape. Good stuff!!
www.sailrite.com/Butyl-Tape-Bedding-Deck-Hardware-Sealant-Video-Demo
Select to expand quotekeensailor said..
But isn't Butyl it a tape?
I need a paste so it will squeeze down the holes and seal around the screws/bolts.
Butyl can also be had as a mastic.
Marine goop from mona vale hobie shop or online. The best sealant/ glue around. Ive even used it to fix a broken crystal glass and sunglasses. This stuff is amazing and must have on a boat for me. 20 bucks a tube and fixes any problem - even psychological ones , its that good.
Did an experiment a few years ago using butyl, (not the proper stuff you can buy for yachts, but the stuff you bed down kitchen sinks with...it might be the same stuff??)
I detailed the process(same as FreeRadical posted) here : www.tophatyachts.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=588
wow that was over 4& a half years, checked it the other day & no leaks! (the alloy cleat has aged a lot tho'!), as with all methods I think the key is to counter-sink the hole.
Select to expand quoteBlueMoon said..
Did an experiment a few years ago using butyl, (not the proper stuff you can buy for yachts, but the stuff you bed down kitchen sinks with...it might be the same stuff??)
I detailed the process(same as FreeRadical posted) here : www.tophatyachts.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=588
wow that was over 4& a half years, checked it the other day & no leaks! (the alloy cleat has aged a lot tho'!), as with all methods I think the key is to counter-sink the hole.
Yeah BlueMoon, 100% agree about countersinking the holes. I also countersink the fittings if there is enough meat in them. 
(Meaning of 'enough meat':- " still retain it's structural integrity")
Ok, so can anyone tell me where to get butyl tape in Australia please....?
regards,
Allan
Select to expand quotekeensailor said..
Looks like the FixTech FixSeal MSP15 - White is the way to go.
Any reason you would use this over SIKA 291 (other than it shrinks by 5%)
Plus 2 white or clear id choose fix it for that purpose Keen 291 never again
I'm now thinking I might give the Butyl tape a go with the countersunk method. Otherwise Fix it 15 for sure.
I'm a massive fan of Sika 291..... but only have 2 years experience of it! All my reseals including my pulpit as holding up fine so far! as others have said about other products, it sticks like s*#t (but the surfaces have to be clean).
Yeah I used SIKA 291 to seal around the deck hatch when I replaced it. It does'nt leak and I think it was good for this role.
However I used it around the anchor light wires which disappear down into a hole in the mast foot and it has gone real chatty and started to leak. I think in this case it was too exposed so am I unsure how UV resistant it actually is.
