New Here....Need Advice On Caulking

Back into boatbuilding after a 3-decade absence.

First project is an 11ft Fred Dion Work Punt drawn by John Gardner (photos) that will support footbridge and weir construction in the beaver pond area of a wildlife refuge. Hull is of quartersawn 7/8" old-growth Western Red Cedar on DF framing. All timber is salvaged - I have a 26' Lucas portable sawmill that is the cat's meow for quartersawn lumber.

I have filled my 1/8" planking seams 2/3 full with soft Bristol cotton like I'm used to doing, but I'm mystified by the new seam compounds....

.....should I use polyurethane or polysulfide? Should it have adhesive qualities like 3M 5200? Can you rake this new stuff out of those seams when the time comes decades from now? Gosh, it's expensive....looks like I'm gonna have more money in seam compounds than in any other single expense....including the galvanized screws.

And whatever happened to red and white lead? I'm using thinned copper bottom paint to bed the faying surfaces and pay the seams because I can't find leads locally.

It needs to be sandable, as I'm not gonna fair this hull until caulking has cured.

Thanks,

Bob

 

Polysulfide, if you use the right primer, has better adhesion. Also it is more flexible and softer. I don't know where to find lead of any kind. It is what I was used to buy too.

 

I'm wonderin' since Kirby sells "red lead" paint that someone out there makes white and red lead paste.

I found a gallon or two of red lead paste at a surplus store. It has to be genuwine 'cause the damn gallon cans are verrra verrra heavy!

 

gotta love that illegal paint!

 

Thanks all for your responses.

Boat is long done and in service raising sunken logs. Used polysulfide below waterline and home brew of whiting/linseed/white lead above. Coating is Navy surplus alkyd paint.

 

she looks like shes ready to hit the beach at Normandy.

 

Caulking Cotton Thread

Dear Sirs,

We wish to introduce ourselves as a manufacturer & exporters of:


MARINE CAULKING THREAD & Caulking Cotton

i.e. Cotton Packing Cord (Twine) in Gulf Area it’s called KALFAT

Using in Wooden Boats for manufacturing and repairing the wood boards joints as a filler.

Packing onto balls, card board tube, Hanks or as per your need.

Besides our other items are:

• Braided Cotton Wicks
• Cotton Ropes
• PP Braided Rope also in other synthetic materials
• Elastic Tie Down Belts and Bungee Cord
• Cleaning Mops & Mop Yarns

Our URL is:

www.abdind.cjb.net

Awaiting your response.

Best Regards.
ASAD

ABDULLA INDUSTRIES
B-59, S.I.T.E. AREA
KARACHI-75700
PAKISTAN

Tel: 92 21 2570880
FAX# 92 21 2578332

 

Caulking Cotton Thread

Dear Sirs,

We wish to introduce ourselves as a manufacturer & exporters of:


MARINE CAULKING THREAD

i.e. Cotton Packing Cord (Twine) in Gulf Area it’s called KALFAT

Using in Wooden Boats for manufacturing and repairing the wood boards joints as a filler.

Packing onto balls, card board tube, Hanks or as per your need.

Besides our other items are:

Braided Cotton Wicks
Cotton Ropes
PP Braided Rope also in other synthetic materials
Elastic Tie Down Belts and Bungee Cord
Cleaning Mops & Mop Yarns


Our URL is:

www.abdind.cjb.net

Awaiting your response.

Best Regards.
ASAD

ABDULLA INDUSTRIES
B-59, S.I.T.E. AREA
KARACHI-75700
PAKISTAN

Tel: 92 21 2570880
FAX# 92 21 2578332

 

Bob Smalser one of the gurus of the "Wooden Boat Forum". What are you doing in this techno place??

 

Some kind of experiment I shouldn't wonder!
I would be curious on the latest results of "Are your glue joints repairable"