Regarding the use of silicone for ports.

Beckson, one of the largest manufacturer specifies that silicone SHOULD be used :

Their installation instructions are found here: https://www.beckson.com/installport.html 

"Choice of Sealant:

There are many brands of caulk, adhesive and sealant available in your marine chandlery or hardware store, but be wary, not all are like. Many are for specific applications and may contain solvents that are destructive to thermoplastics. Chemical solvents should not be used for clean up.

Beckson recommends 100% silicone sealant only.

Beckson recommends 100% silicone sealant only. Availability of silicone varies regionally. Please contact your sealant manufacturer for the most up to date information with regard to materials and compatibility. Silicone has been around for nearly 50 years without sign of failure. Most other caulks and sealants fail after 10 years. When a port is installed properly, silicone works best for years of enjoyment.

Sanding previously caulked areas:

Previously caulked or sealed areas must be sanded in order to remove the old caulk. If not removed, a strong bond will not occur. Surfaces may appear to be free of caulk to the eye, but residue may still be present on the gel coat. Sand lightly with 220 grit paper to prepare for the silicone sealant."

Check with the port manufacturer before deciding. Butyl is probably a safe choice but while it is an excellent sealant it is very weak as an adhesive. On a slightly curves surface that adhesive quality might be important.

Graham Stewart
gstewart8 at cogeco.ca

-----Original Message-----
From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Mitch Mitchell
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2020 10:48 AM
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Bilge

Thanks Mark, hopefully the previous owner didn't use silicone. I'm hoping
the port frame will come off easily.

On Tue, Aug 18, 2020 at 10:39 AM Mark Whipple <mark at whipplefamily.com>
wrote:

> Hi Mitch,
>
> I'm not an expert on sealants but I think butyl tape would work for
> resealing the ports. What I am sure of is you should NEVER use a
> silicone-based sealant on a boat. Silicone makes a chemical bond with any
> surface it touches. Once you have silicone on a surface, nothing else will
> bond to it - not even more silicone. When you think you've removed silicone
> from a surface there is still residue you can't see. You have to apply a
> chemical called a "digester" to chemically break down and remove the
> silicone residue. I was recently repairing a skylight on my Nimble 30 and
> had to do the job all over because the sealant I used failed to bond. I
> didn't realize silicone had been used previously.
>
> Mark
> --
> Boston, MA
>
> 2000 R22 *Luna Mia*
> 1987 Nimble 30 *For Sale*
> 1982 Com-Pac 16 *For Sale*
>
> On Tue, Aug 18, 2020 at 10:28 AM Mitch Mitchell <mitchpadl at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > I have also discovered water in the bilge whenever the boat is in the
> rain
> > and not covered. I have traced it to a window, the vhf connector and
> water
> > also shows up in the lazarette. I know that there have been a number of
> > threads on this before but wondering if there is a consensus on the best
> > way to seal the small windows? I'm thinking butyl tape but not sure. I've
> > also had the bilge seem dry but if I lift the bow up water magically
> > appears and if I dry it and then lower the bow (on trailer) then once
> again
> > more water appears as it must be seeping in from other areas. Any input
> > would be great. Thanks, Mitch
> >
> > On Mon, Aug 17, 2020 at 11:36 AM Michael Corley <michael.4591 at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > I agree with Graham.  "I think I have determined that water leaks in my
> > > boat are a function of how my boat happens to be feeling at any
> > particular
> > > time."
> > > The little bit of water I get in my bilge comes mainly after
> rainstorms.
> > > No evidence of leaks  .  .  . of course it could be the 21 year old
> ports
> > > and hatches need resetting/replacement.
> > >
> > > Mike
> > > S/V Ranger
> > > 99 Rhodes
> > >
> > > On Sun, Aug 16, 2020 at 10:40 PM Nancy <njcassie at optonline.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Had a good rain today and will investigate in the morning. Feel like
> a
> > > > detective
> > > >
> > > > Sent from my iPhone
> > > >
> > > > > On Aug 16, 2020, at 10:18 PM, Tex Hill <Tejas.Hill at outlook.com>
> > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > ?You are probably right, I have had similar experience.(:
> > > > > Tex
> > > > >
> > > > > Sent from my iPad
> > > > >
> > > > >> On Aug 16, 2020, at 9:05 PM, Graham Stewart <gstewart8 at cogeco.ca>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >>
> > > > >> ?Two seasons ago  I had a variety of leaks in two windows, the
> > > > companion way, the vent and the lazarette. Any rain at all and the
> > water
> > > > would flow in. On the otherhand if I ried to locate the leak using a
> > hose
> > > > and pouring copious amounts of water everywhere that seemed suspect,
> no
> > > > water entered the boat. Last year, because of the highwater in lake
> > > Ontario
> > > > I was not able to launch and the boat remaind under cover. I
> committed
> > > > myself to track down and repair the leaks this year. I strung paper
> > towel
> > > > everywhere I thought was suspect and waited for a good rain to
> identify
> > > the
> > > > leaks based on the telltale signs left on the paper towel. We have
> had
> > a
> > > > number of torrential downpours this year and so far not a drop of
> water
> > > in
> > > > the boat.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> I think I have determined that water leaks in my boat are a
> function
> > > of
> > > > how my boat happens to be feeling at any particular time.
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Graham Stewart
> > > > >> Agile, Rodes 22, 1976
> > > > >> Kingston Ontario
> > > > >>
> > > > >>
> > > > >> -----Original Message-----
> > > > >> From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]
> On
> > > > Behalf Of Tex Hill
> > > > >> Sent: Sunday, August 16, 2020 3:53 PM
> > > > >> To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
> > > > >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Bilge
> > > > >>
> > > > >> My daughter had a subtle leak  that was hard to see how  water got
> > > into
> > > > the bilge. They finally traced it to one of the ports, removed the
> > port,
> > > > caulked It . Problem solved.
> > > > >> Tex Hill
> > > > >>
> > > > >> Sent from my iPad
> > > > >>
> > > > >>>> On Aug 15, 2020, at 8:39 PM, Nancy <njcassie at optonline.net>
> > wrote:
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> ?Thanks
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>> Sent from my iPhone
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>>>> On Aug 15, 2020, at 9:04 PM, Peter Nyberg <
> > peter at sunnybeeches.com>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> ?It’s likely that something got soaked and water is continuing
> to
> > > > seep out slowly into the bilge.  I’d keep an eye on it, but I doubt
> > it’s
> > > > anything to worry about.
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>> —Peter
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>>>> On Aug 15, 2020, at 7:58 PM, Nancy <njcassie at optonline.net>
> > > wrote:
> > > > >>>>>
> > > > >>>>> We had a lot of water in the bilge after the tropical storm.
> > Pumped
> > > > it all out. We seem to have 1/2” clear water in the bilge now. Eve.
> If
> > we
> > > > pump to dryness, it comes back clear, small amount.  Thoughts?
> > > > >>>>> Thanks in advance.
> > > > >>>>> Nancy C
> > > > >>>>> Sent from my iPhone
> > > > >>>>
> > > > >>>
> > > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>