Waterproof seal on Nautolex clad surfaces

[ShoestringMariner]

I’m redoing my boat and I’ve installed floors clad with nautolex. I’m working on other surfaces next. I’ve found that acetone and nautolex don’t mix, not that acetone and ANYTHING mixes lol.

Anyway, I reached out to both the supplier and the manufacturer to see if there were any products that would negatively react with nautolex such as contact with neoprene rubber, neoprene closed cell tape, butyl tape and other sealants but they weren’t much help.

I’ve learned that 3m 5200 doesn’t stick to it so I need to know what does.

I’m planning on mounting my windshield to nautolex clad surface and using butyl or double sided glazing tape between the 2 surfaces. Is there any better caulking type products that will adhere to the face side? (Cartridge/tube applied etc)

Thanks in advance

 

[kcassells]

Welcome aboard, post some pics.

 

[Scott Danforth]

butyl tape will make a seal, even if it doesnt stick to the nautolex.

the top layer of the nautolex is designed so not much sticks to it.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Welcome aboard, post some pics.

Thanks.
I’ve actually been hanging out here for a little while but mostly over on the StarCraft forum.

Photos found in my resto/build thread. https://forums.iboats.com/threads/s...g-slow-road-begin.721077/page-24#post-5753065
You will have to surf through a lot of chit chat. Latest pics show floors

 

[ShoestringMariner]

butyl tape will make a seal, even if it doesnt stick to the nautolex.

the top layer of the nautolex is designed so not much sticks to it.

Thanks Scott, that’s what I was starting to suspect. I do like butyl tape because it’s malleable and sticky but I was wondering if it was malleable enough to squish down into all the voids to create a water tight seal. (for shedding water, not containing)

 

[renns]

Just thinking out loud here, but I wonder if that butyl tape could be heated prior to application, to allow it to flow a bit more into those voids in the vinyl.

Also, did you ever try that Goop? I gooped some onto a test piece of the Nautolex, and it seemed to bond very well. I can't speak to the long-term sealing abilities of that stuff, but it does say 'UV resistant' on the packaging FWIW. Plus it smells awesome!

 

[Scott Danforth]

butyl tape flows into crevices at -20F. no need to heat it.

goop is just silicone

 

[renns]

goop is just silicone

Seems different to me. Here's the MSDS:

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Just thinking out loud here, but I wonder if that butyl tape could be heated prior to application, to allow it to flow a bit more into those voids in the vinyl.

Also, did you ever try that Goop? I gooped some onto a test piece of the Nautolex, and it seemed to bond very well. I can't speak to the long-term sealing abilities of that stuff, but it does say 'UV resistant' on the packaging FWIW. Plus it smells awesome!

Thanks, yes I used it on all of the thru floor rivets and it does smell. Definitely not silicone. I’m not sure what the component is inside it but it reminds me of a dry cleaning chemicals. And it doesn’t take much for it to go to your head. Especially when you’re kneeling over top trying to drizzle and wick it down the hole.

I don’t think I’ll try goop on this next application because I’m worried about trying to clean up squeeze out.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Update I just looked it up. It’s a tetrachloroethylene that must smell. The predominant solvent used for dry cleaning. how do you like that? been 30 years since I smelt that stuff…

 

[renns]

Yeah, the squeeze-out could be pretty messy the Goop under the windscreen.