Nautolex flooring adhesive and spar varnish?

[ShoestringMariner]

I’m reading a lot of negatives regarding contact cements not working will with spar varnish.

Any suggestion on glues that work well with spar? I want to do the OTF preservative treatment and varnish to seal the new ACX ply, then clad with nautolex. I’m not keen on leaving it bare in order for cement to stick.

Would epoxy coatings work any better?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Anyone use 3M ScotchWeld or 3M Fastbond?

 

[roscoe]

used contact cement on a boat , 25 ? years ago. very difficult to work with.

Last 2 boats i used spar, 2 coats, 3 coats on edges, then used $12 a gallon vinyl floor adhesive from menards.
Put it in in one piece, started at one end and rolled it out as I applied adhesive in 18" swathes.
That was 2011, nautolex is still stuck, no loose spots or issues. Even after the boat sunk once, and was swamped once.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

used contact cement on a boat , 25 ? years ago. very difficult to work with.

Last 2 boats i used spar, 2 coats, 3 coats on edges, then used $12 a gallon vinyl floor adhesive from menards.
Put it in in one piece, started at one end and rolled it out as I applied adhesive in 18" swathes.
That was 2011, nautolex is still stuck, no loose spots or issues. Even after the boat sunk once, and was swamped once.

That’s great! Not the sinking part but the toughness of your application.
Do you happen to remember the brand, or if it was latex based or a more aggressive compound?

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, what does Nautolex recommend?

Why are you not sealing the deck with fiberglass cloth and poly resin? It is much better than OTF/spar varnish, as it adds strength to the deck, holds seams together, and is more waterproof than OTF/Spar, IMO.

As long as the poly resin/cloth is not punctured, it will be waterproof indefinitely, unlike the OTF/spar.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Gee, what does Nautolex recommend?

Why are you not sealing the deck with fiberglass cloth and poly resin? It is much better than OTF/spar varnish, as it adds strength to the deck, holds seams together, and is more waterproof than OTF/Spar, IMO.

As long as the poly resin/cloth is not punctured, it will be waterproof indefinitely, unlike the OTF/spar.

Nautolex recommends their Nautolex 88 adhesive, which does not appear to be available here, so searching for an alternative.

I want to use OTF and spar as I have it on hand and in theory, the boat won’t see a ton of rain and hopefully won’t be seeing swamped or submerged conditions. So looking to seal boards for intrusion if the vinyl is compromised and for dampness below.

I’m installing my boards in panels with large flange rivets like you see in some boats. All board edges will be wrapped over pre-clad corners. So no part of the panel “should” see significant water conditions.

But I won’t rule out fiberglass cloth if the OTF/Spar will not last 15-20 years in my intended use age. It will see fairweather use, covered at dock or garage kept and winter stored indoors or wrapped/under heavy winter cover. Of course it will see at least one soap and water scrub down once seasonally.

But time is NOT on my side. I am trying to get this boat splashed by May and I only have weekends available to do this work. (Plus an entire electrical refit on top). So not being lazy, or cheap. Just trying to be as practical as possible and get this thing done.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

@moderator I just realized that the title of this thread is a little misleading.

Could somebody please change it to “compatible adhesive for nautolex flooring on spar varnish surface”?

Thank you

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Gee, what does Nautolex recommend?

I’ve since realized that you thought I meant the actual nautolex brand adhesive. I can’t get it so I’m looking for an alternative. My subject heading was a little vague.

 

[Chris1956]

You might check out mastic for sheet goods (linoleum). If they have indoor/outdoor adhesive for that, I expect it would work for you.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

You might check out mastic for sheet goods (linoleum). If they have indoor/outdoor adhesive for that, I expect it would work for you.

Thanks very much, I will check into that

 

[ShoestringMariner]

So nobody carry’s indoor/outdoor waterproof vinyl flooring adhesive around here any more. Part because of lack of sales as vinyl flooring in homes is rare nowadays and part because of environmentals.

I ordered 390 Premium marine adhesive and I’m going to apply it to bare wood on the top and then I will do the OTF/Spar on the bottom. I’m going to be sure the corners are sealed well and hope for the best