MJ Sailingvideo
Sealing Our Windows Shut with ShrinkWrap (MJ Sailing - Ep 339)
17 August 2024 · 17 min · 44K views · Kent Island
What this video covers
To protect the interior of a boat undergoing a refit, the crew seals deck hatch openings with plywood covers and shrink wrap. They cut 3/4-inch plywood to fit the hatch cutouts, coating the wood with Total Boat Epoxy to prevent water damage.4:52 After cleaning the deck surface with denatured alcohol, they apply butyl tape around the perimeter of each opening to create a watertight seal.5:56 The plywood covers are secured by screwing them into the deck from the underside.7:32 The crew then applies Dr. Shrink wrap over the covers, using a Stanley heat gun to tension the material.8:30 They use 4-inch adhesive tape to bond the shrink wrap to the deck, maintaining a 2-inch margin for adhesion.9:13 The process requires careful heat application to avoid over-shrinking, which can cause the tape to pull away from the deck.13:01 This temporary measure prevents water intrusion while the vessel remains in the work yard awaiting final painting and permanent hatch installation.
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