Can I spread putty under-water ?

After recently purchasing a 12m wooden boat which was on dry land, I have done some repairs and have just put it in the sea.

Th boat had been under the sun all summer ( I am in Turkey and its HOT ) so before putting it in I soaked the inside using a hose pipe for a couple of days so that the wood would expand and close up the gaps.

After putting in the sea the boat has been taking in water from the stern for two days without any sign of further closing up so yesterday I decided to find out where the problem was. I swam under the boat and watched air bubbles get sucked into the joint between the tramson and the keel.

I then scraped out the joint and jammed cotton string into the gap ( they call it caulking ) using the same technique that I used when replacing some planks but this time with mask and flippers on !

To finish the job I need to cover the cotton with putty and paint it. Will the putty stick if I spread it underwater (sea water) ?
Also can I paint antifouling underwater ?

Its been recommended that I get hold of some 3M 4200.
What about normal glazing type putty - linseed oil putty - that they put on wooden boats after caulking with cotton ? Would that cure if put on under water ?


David.

 

I just read somewhere that
a product called "Life Caulk" would be good - but I might not be able to get it here (Turkey)

As a 2nd choice "Interlux" hopefully I'll at least find that one.

Is normal linseed oil putty out of the question ?
I did the cotton caulking today - the water intake is down to a "seep" now.
Maybe I should just try the putty and find out ?

Any thoughts/ advice ?

 

Do it! What have you got to loose? Let us know how it works.

 

Had a similar problem this week on my boat....was handed a tube of window sealant and a tub of grease. Mix a bit of grease in with the sealant and it will stick under water. Think you can try red lead putty and grease too.

 

Well I could not find this Interlux etct so I bought some putty with hardener -its not epoxy so I guess it is a polyester putty ? Anyway I put it on underwater and it seems to be holding.
ı will check it in a week to see how it goes.

 

most resin polyester,vinylester,epoxy even sikaflex will go hard under water the question is will it bond to the surface

 

As far as I know there is some epoxy that you break off and rub the two parts together. Underwater you have again to rub it into the place of which you want it to stick.

I have also heard that rubbing grease on to a propeller can be done.

I have also heard of an anti fouling that can be applied under water.