Mastic tips

[Bonne Idée]

It’s routine maintenance time and I’m touching up/replacing some of the external black and white mastic on the deck and rubbing strip. Any suggestions on a good make to use?

[bellalistair]

Hi,

Sikaflex is the usual answer, type 291 for most jobs.

Cheers,

Alistair

[erbster]

This post from my blog might help:


https://travellingaurora.wordpress.com/ ... or-marine/


Cape Cutter #86 Aurora
travellingaurora.wordpress.com

[Malcolm Sadler]

A very good PBO review of ten sealant/adhesives here https://www.pbo.co.uk/gear/which-adhesi ... best-20877

Obviously Sikaflex (presumably now 291i) is what we had from HM on new boats if that’s what they did as maintenance and Charles’s pictures and commentary are a great help with that job. Thanks Charles as I will need to re-run the seal beneath my port rubbing strake

But I was interested that the PBO article didn’t rate 291i very highly - albeit they may have been focusing on adhesive qualities and it is important sometimes to have a sealant that is not going to pull off your gelcoat if you need to take A fitting off.

I will be fitting new S/S deck fittings for my turning blocks and in view of the PBO comments I have decided to use butyl tape/putty rather than Sikaflex where steel is concerned.

All the best

Malcolm