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Author Topic:   Sealant for Screw Fasteners

Bill Davis posted 01-30-2004 09:45 PM ET (US)
I know this is answered umptee-ump times on here but it is too hard to search.
I am going to put a couple of scews into the gunwale and there is only gelcoat and foam, not "whaler board." I just want to know if there is something I should squirt in the screw hole [the pilot hole I will drill] to better hold the screw in.
I would prefer something I can get at Wal-Mart or somesuch, rather than have to order from West.
Thanks
Alan de la Houssaye posted 01-31-2004 01:33 AM ET (US)
Bill, try using a wooden dowl of similar width and depth. Prior to insertion, fill the hole with a waterproof glue insert the dowl and let cure for 24 hrs prior to insertion of screw. F.Y.I, depending on the job, there are times you may need to drill a larger hole and use of a larger wooden dowl to get a bite from the screw. All parts can be obtained from Wal-Mart or your favorite hardware or hobby store. You can also find teak / mahogany dowls if needed at specialty wood supply stores.
Alan
Bill Davis posted 01-31-2004 10:37 AM ET (US)
Thanks. But that sounds like just glueing wood in and screwing into that. I want to drill into gunwhale and was think there is a tube of stuff that folks use to better fix screws in fiberglass or gelcoat. This is a 2001 BW.
jimh posted 01-31-2004 11:35 AM ET (US)
Bill--It only takes one click to reach the search page.
You type in two words "sealant" and "screw."
You get 86 articles that contain them.
Too hard?
Bill Davis posted 01-31-2004 12:48 PM ET (US)
ouch!
Will do.
thanks
greg7445 posted 01-31-2004 04:49 PM ET (US)
use 5200
lhg posted 01-31-2004 06:08 PM ET (US)
If it is a wet area, such as bilge pump screw, I would use Boat Life polysulfide sealant. This is for underwater sealing. Pure silicone sealant is not underwater rated.
triblet posted 01-31-2004 07:25 PM ET (US)
There are two issues here: strength and watertightness.
For strength, if you really want to do it right, drill the
hole, hog out some foam behind the hole using a bent nail in a
drill (the high tech appoach is an Allen wrench), then fill
the void with epoxy. Re drill and put the scree in the epoxy.
For waterthightness, I'd recommed 101 rather than 5200. 5200
is an adhesive. 101 is a sealant. And you can splash the
boat immediately with 101. The down side of 101 is that it's
hard to find in less than a caulk gun tube. But it does
exist in small tubes. And it keeps, 5200 doesn't.

Chuck

Bill Davis posted 01-31-2004 09:31 PM ET (US)
Thanks guys! That's what I needed.
Bill
Tom W Clark posted 02-01-2004 09:18 PM ET (US)
In the context of sealing a screw, there is no significant difference between 3M 5200, 4200 or 101. 5200 is a very powerful adhesive but it will not prevent a screw from being removed in the future. Not even close.
5200 an 4200 are polyurethanes. They cure by water just as polysulfides do. Regardless of whether you use 3M 5200 ,4200 or 101, "you can splash the boat immediately", as Chuck says.
You need not use any of the 3M products which may not be available at Wal Mart and which are very expensize. There are lots of Polyurethane sealant out there. Sika 231, 240 241, 1A are some that come to mind that are widely available. Just go to the paint section and examine the choices of caulks looking for a polyurethane that does cost too much.

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Author	Topic: Sealant for Screw Fasteners
Bill Davis	posted 01-30-2004 09:45 PM ET (US) I know this is answered umptee-ump times on here but it is too hard to search. I am going to put a couple of scews into the gunwale and there is only gelcoat and foam, not "whaler board." I just want to know if there is something I should squirt in the screw hole [the pilot hole I will drill] to better hold the screw in. I would prefer something I can get at Wal-Mart or somesuch, rather than have to order from West. Thanks
Alan de la Houssaye	posted 01-31-2004 01:33 AM ET (US) Bill, try using a wooden dowl of similar width and depth. Prior to insertion, fill the hole with a waterproof glue insert the dowl and let cure for 24 hrs prior to insertion of screw. F.Y.I, depending on the job, there are times you may need to drill a larger hole and use of a larger wooden dowl to get a bite from the screw. All parts can be obtained from Wal-Mart or your favorite hardware or hobby store. You can also find teak / mahogany dowls if needed at specialty wood supply stores. Alan
Bill Davis	posted 01-31-2004 10:37 AM ET (US) Thanks. But that sounds like just glueing wood in and screwing into that. I want to drill into gunwhale and was think there is a tube of stuff that folks use to better fix screws in fiberglass or gelcoat. This is a 2001 BW.
jimh	posted 01-31-2004 11:35 AM ET (US) Bill--It only takes one click to reach the search page. You type in two words "sealant" and "screw." You get 86 articles that contain them. Too hard?
Bill Davis	posted 01-31-2004 12:48 PM ET (US) ouch! Will do. thanks
greg7445	posted 01-31-2004 04:49 PM ET (US) use 5200
lhg	posted 01-31-2004 06:08 PM ET (US) If it is a wet area, such as bilge pump screw, I would use Boat Life polysulfide sealant. This is for underwater sealing. Pure silicone sealant is not underwater rated.
triblet	posted 01-31-2004 07:25 PM ET (US) There are two issues here: strength and watertightness. For strength, if you really want to do it right, drill the hole, hog out some foam behind the hole using a bent nail in a drill (the high tech appoach is an Allen wrench), then fill the void with epoxy. Re drill and put the scree in the epoxy. For waterthightness, I'd recommed 101 rather than 5200. 5200 is an adhesive. 101 is a sealant. And you can splash the boat immediately with 101. The down side of 101 is that it's hard to find in less than a caulk gun tube. But it does exist in small tubes. And it keeps, 5200 doesn't. Chuck
Bill Davis	posted 01-31-2004 09:31 PM ET (US) Thanks guys! That's what I needed. Bill
Tom W Clark	posted 02-01-2004 09:18 PM ET (US) In the context of sealing a screw, there is no significant difference between 3M 5200, 4200 or 101. 5200 is a very powerful adhesive but it will not prevent a screw from being removed in the future. Not even close. 5200 an 4200 are polyurethanes. They cure by water just as polysulfides do. Regardless of whether you use 3M 5200 ,4200 or 101, "you can splash the boat immediately", as Chuck says. You need not use any of the 3M products which may not be available at Wal Mart and which are very expensize. There are lots of Polyurethane sealant out there. Sika 231, 240 241, 1A are some that come to mind that are widely available. Just go to the paint section and examine the choices of caulks looking for a polyurethane that does cost too much.