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Caulking a Small Boat - Tips, Tools and Materials

15 May 2024 · 2 min · 193 views

What this video covers

Cotton caulking technique for narrow plank seams — specifically 3/8-inch planking with seams just under 1/8 inch — is the focus.0:04 A full strand of conventional cotton caulking runs too wide for tight seams; splitting it to roughly three-quarters of a strand gives a workable fit.0:15 Cotton wicking, the type used for candle wicks, offers an alternative for the smallest gaps and can be rolled and fed in by hand to gauge depth before setting.0:46 Tools include a seam roller, a thin caulking iron (as narrow as possible for small seams), and a standard hammer used with light taps.0:46 The goal is to drive the cotton to about halfway to two-thirds of the seam depth, leaving a shallow indentation.2:13 That recess then receives a seam compound — a paintable putty — to seal and protect the cotton below.2:22 Strand thickness and iron width are the two variables to match to seam size.

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