Silicone blunder-S.O.S.!

Tony G · Post by **Tony G** » Fri May 27, 2005 11:40 am

I recently posted this one on the Ariel Assoc. forum but nobody wanted to touch it. Don't be afraid to trod all over my pride as I already feel stupid enough. I'm more concerned with what needs to be done next.

Because we don't have a heated shop here, our 'boat building' season is relegated to the short summer season with the looong winter season left primarily for mental atrophy. Case and point follows.

Last year I had begun scraping silicone and various other sealants off of the boat in preparation for epoxy work and, later, primer and paint. For some reason I 'finished work' and wrapped up the season having only completely scraped three of the four main cabin ports. As I keep a log of all the work performed on our boat I noted that more scraping was needed to finish that job...

Jump ahead to spring, 2005. Man, I'm excited to get started. Vacuum and wash the boat. My head is swimming with lists and new ideas and parts! I just gotta' get started. So I jump up on deck armed with an R.O. sander dying to get rid of that horrid, brushed-on, saggy, run riddled paint on the cabin and I-you know it-sanded right over the top of the sealant on that last port opening. It's ground in pretty good. Too good, I fear. I could puke.

What are the options? Is there a fix? I've considered grinding/cutting all the glass away from the area and rebuilding, but, I'd rather not if something less drastic is effective.

What good is a log if you don't read it? I'm thinking about knocking my front teeth out, getting some bib overalls and throwing all of my shoes away. Tony G

Commanderpete · Post by **Commanderpete** » Fri May 27, 2005 1:34 pm

Some tips here

http://www.gesealants.com/sealants/resi ... ured.shtml

I'd probably wipe it with a few different chemicals, but what do I know?

Then sand some more.

Should be fine.

Otherwise, proceed with your Plan B

Tony G · Post by **Tony G** » Fri May 27, 2005 1:55 pm

C'Pete

Where do you find this stuff? Of course I'm refering to the picture. Someone (correct me, right me, beat me) if I'm wrong, but isn't mineral spirits on raw fiberglass contraindicated? I could see using it on gel coat where you're not likely to get absorption.

I just finished wiping the area with acetone and a dry rag. Hopfully it will not to drive the sealant further into the glass. Then I applied a scrificial coat of primer to the area to see how well it adheres. With this gawd awful heat (54 F) we'll see what happens tomorrow.

windrose · Post by **windrose** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:20 am

C'Pete

That is DAMN funny. Think I saw him running a trot line in South Creek this week. Would love to send that photo to some of my boat building buddies.

Post by **Tim** » Sat May 28, 2005 8:39 am

Tony,

So you're worried that you've already contaminated the surface with silicone?

Feel free to use lots of solvents of a variety of natures--acetone, paint thinner, etc. Used in relatively spare quantities, you have nothing to worry about in terms of fiberglass damage. You might also try an industrial dewaxing/degreasing solvent, such as Awl-prep plus. Wash the area several times, using clean rags, and turning them frequently. Then just proceed as normal.

You can always do a quick check to see if there is bad contamination by misting some water on the surface; it should always break evenly, and not bead up in the slightest. Beads indicate contamination.

I guess you're already past this point, from reading your last post, but in general it sounds like you did the right thing.