Removing & Replacing Caulk

B

Bryank

Member
Jul 3, 2008
455
Catawba Island, OH
Boat Info
2001 410DA
Engines
Mercruiser 8.1S Horizons
I'm going to be removing some old caulk on my boat and wondered what was the best replacement caulk to use. I'll be doing this primarily around the windshield (where it meets the hull in the cockpit) as well as on the cockpit floor perimeter (where it meets up with the stern of the boat). Any thoughts on which white caulk to use?
 
I redid all the caulk on my boat about a month ago. I used 3m 4200 since I had a couple tubes and I also used a silicone UV protectant one from GE. Both are "guaranteed" not to yellow and BOTH did.
 
I have a couple places I need to do as well. The caulk is still white after 17 years but cracked. I Wonder what searay used from the factory? Seemed to hold up very well for many years.
 
3M 4000UV is rated to take the UV, report vary on it yellowing, I've never had an issue.

Boatlife Caulk is also supposed to be good, but I've heard it can be tough to apply.
 
Jmwarren said:
3M 4000UV is rated to take the UV, report vary on it yellowing, I've never had an issue.

Boatlife Caulk is also supposed to be good, but I've heard it can be tough to apply.
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Thats what I thought also. BUT there is yellowing already, I am in Florida....
 
Boatlife will be much harder to remove also.
 
04cobra23 said:
Thats what I thought also. BUT there is yellowing already, I am in Florida....
Click to expand...

You said you used 4200, it isn't that UV stable. 4000 UV is a lot better, but some have still said it can yellow.
 
04cobra23 said:
Two different types of caulk both yellowed.
Click to expand...

I think what Jmwarren was getting at was that you said you used "4200" and a GE caulk. NOT 4000UV as he mentioned. 4200 will yellow. 4000UV should do fine.

BoatLife LifeCalk will be the messy one to apply, but lasts longer. LifeSeal is pretty easy to deal with. Bostik is a brand that Sea Ray has used, although it is not the only one. Personally, I've been using the BoatLife stuff and it has never let me down. But... BoatLife, 3M4000UV, Bostik - all good stuff.

Tip... squish the sealant into a plastic sandwich baggie, cut the tip of the baggie off to the desired hole/bead size, and use it like a cake-decorating bag.
 
Last edited:
Lazy Daze said:
I think what Jmwarren was getting at was that you said you used "4200" and a GE caulk. NOT 4000UV as he mentioned. 4200 will yellow. 4000UV should do fine.

BoatLife LifeCalk will be the messy one to apply, but lasts longer. LifeSeal is pretty easy to deal with. Bostik is a brand that Sea Ray has used, although it is not the only one. Personally, I've been using the BoatLife stuff and it has never let me down. But... BoatLife, 3M4000UV, Bostik - all good stuff.

Tip... squish the sealant into a plastic sandwich baggie, cut the tip of the baggie off to the desired hole/bead size, and use it like a cake-decorating bag.
Click to expand...

+1 on BoatLife LifeCaulk and LifeSeal. I have used both and neither is yellow after 2 years.
 
4000UV is the most frequently use sealer on my boat's topside. I don't recall any yellow stains after few years, so it holds very well.
4200 gets applied to anything that's not exposed to the open daylight and for under waterline applications.

When I did my windshield, I asked what SR used and, as Dennis said, BoatLife was the brand. I just don't recall 100% whether it was LifeSeal or LifeCalk. It's been about 2-3 years and it's holding up just fine. It's not an easy task and the prepwork is critical.
 
The main difference between LifeSeal and LifeCallk is that the Calk has more adhesive properties. Think of it sort of like 4200, but with just a little more "grip" (pretty close, though). But not as much as 5200 so you don't have to worry about damaging the gelcoat upon removal. I "think" it would have been LifeSeal, Alex, but I wouldn't say 100%, either.
 
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