Sealing hull/top cap.....BIG gaps?

Hello all, I have a 1992 Caravelle D'Elegance 19 ft. boat i bought two years ago in need of an engine. Well being this was my first boat i did not realize it also needed a floor, transom, stringers etc. Well i finally finished this thing this year and took it out Memorial Day weekend and it was leaking pretty badly from underneath the rub rail. When i got the boat home i removed the rub rail and the seam between the top cap and the hul was FULL of silicone. Any ideas on how to get this stuff cleaned up? I have been digging it out but i would like to seal this up with 3M 5200, but it needs to be clean. Also, the gap in the back right side is huge, like 5/8". The rest has a pretty tight gap. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Re: Sealing hull/top cap.....BIG gaps?

Welcome to iBoats!

We're gunna need pics so we can SEE what you see. My signature line has a link on how to post em.

Re: Sealing hull/top cap.....BIG gaps?

Let me see if this works.....The top cap will not pull in with the screws as it is very tight.

Re: Sealing hull/top cap.....BIG gaps?

Sooooo... you did NOT remove the top cap when you replaced the Transom, Deck, and Stringers??

Re: Sealing hull/top cap.....BIG gaps?

No i did all work with top cap in place. Floor was replaced up to the open bow area.

Re: Sealing hull/top cap.....BIG gaps?

Ok, the reason I asked is, it appears to me that the hull flexed during a previous restoration and the top cap and hull don't match up now. Do you know if the previous owner had done repairs on the boat and removed the top cap? I can't imagine what else could have caused this distortion. Maybe others will chime in. Xylene should eat the silicone off but be VERY careful with it cuz it will remove paint and everything else too. 3m 5200 is very expensive so I would recommend making your own Thickened Resin by adding cabosil and some chopped fibers

Re: Sealing hull/top cap.....BIG gaps?

You can fill the seam and lose the unsightly "rub rail".

Re: Sealing hull/top cap.....BIG gaps?

You'd definitely be better off making up some of your own filler and doing something about those gaps. That's way too much space to try and fill with 5200.

By the way, Sharp Shooter; What kind of boat is that? I like the lines. Does it have a windshield somewhere? *** EDIT *** Nevermind, I just checked out your website. I assume that's one of your Big Block speedboat hulls???

VERY NICE!!! I'm an old gearhead from way back...

Re: Sealing hull/top cap.....BIG gaps?

ingalp01 said:

You'd definitely be better off making up some of your own filler and doing something about those gaps. That's way too much space to try and fill with 5200.

By the way, Sharp Shooter; What kind of boat is that? I like the lines. Does it have a windshield somewhere? *** EDIT *** Nevermind, I just checked out your website. I assume that's one of your Big Block speedboat hulls???

VERY NICE!!! I'm an old gearhead from way back...

Click to expand...

That is a 1974 Hondo flatbottom. That one would be considered a ski boat but useage varies.

We finished it in corvette yellow powered by a 390 Ford.