Practical Sailor's gear and boat reviews take the guesswork out of your buying decisions.

Volume 31
Number 22
November 15, 2005

Update: Caulks and Sealants

After four months in the elements, our 23 caulks and sealants are ready to talk and they're beginning to offer some useful feedback.

PS checked the elasticity of the 23 caulks and sealants affixed to these panels, and took comparative measurements. Those most flexible deflected 5/8"; the least flexible permitted little or no movement; and some (near the middle of the photo) dropped off along the way, indicating too much flexibility.

In the April 1 issue this year, Practical Sailor presented a kick-off report about a test of 23 caulks and sealants. These products, which are so important to boatbuilders and owners, included silicone, polysulfide, polyurethane, acrylic latex, vinyl, polyether, and some combinations thereof. The brands are mostly those strong in the marine field, like 3M, Sikaflex, and BoatLife, but also include hardware-store varieties like Elmer's, GE, and RPM products.

The testing was planned to provide answers to three important questions about these products: …

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