Fixing Leaking Deck Cover
Submitted by Ikan on Sun, 2021-05-09 11:32
Hi All, long time lurker, first time poster, but i would really appreciate the input from the experienced crew on here.
I have a 5.5m plate ali with a sealed deck, the sealed deck is leaking via deck cover over the fuel tank. My plan is to drill out the rivets, clean it up and and re seal it with Sikaflex. I have 3 questions for you guys:
1. When i replace the cover, should i use aluminium rivets or stainless steel screws (with duralac)
2. What is the best way to remove the old sikaflex
3. Any other tips or tricks
Thanks
sea-kem
Posts: 14857
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Remove Sika with elbow
Remove Sika with elbow grease
Stainless screws, I'm not a fan of Duralac as it sets hard, I use either slicon grease or Trefolex
IMO adhesive foam strip from Industrial Rubber supplies, you can get a UV resistant all weather type strip.
Gluing it down again just more grief inthe future if you need to pullit up again.
Love the West!
Ikan
Posts: 2
Date Joined: 27/09/09
Thanks
Thanks Sea-kem,
That is some good advise and makes sense, I will have to rethink my plan and see if I can buy a UV resistent weather strip. Any particular brand of silicon grease work better than others?
Thank you for your input I think you have saved me some re-work down the track.
sea-kem
Posts: 14857
Date Joined: 30/11/09
You're welcome mate, I do a
You're welcome mate, I do a lot of repair work for foffshore oil and gas and have worked out ways over the years to minimise rust and water getting in. Silicone grease I think I bought from Whitworths, basically want to keep a wet bond between the surfaces. A lot of the offshore guys use a copper based anti seize but it's bloody messy and not sure of the reaction with ali and stainless.
Love the West!
Tim
Posts: 2497
Date Joined: 26/09/06
Sika
To remove the Sika check out the DeBond Marine Formula.
I used it on my tank cover and it turns the sika to mush and makes it way easier to get it up and clean it up
Livewire
Posts: 272
Date Joined: 25/11/16
I went with the sigaflex.
I went with the sigaflex. With the screws and joins on the corners a was concerned with leaks, when using a foam seal. No leaks so happy days. An old knife or BBQ scraper works for separating the old stuff. Some elbow grease still required or a small hammer and work along the edges.
WSHN4FSHN
Posts: 224
Date Joined: 19/09/12
I have recently done the same
I have recently done the same job. The previous owner had used silicone and it hadn't sealed well and put too much pressure on a section of rivets which ultimately let go as well. I scraped back the old silicone with a paint scraper then used the scourer discs on my pneumatic die grinder. Then cleaned with thinners and it came up really well. I went with marine sika 291 and riveted it back down with ali rivets. It will be quite a job to lift the 2 floor panels back up but my main priority was making sure it doesn't leak. I can't see any problems in that department for a long time.
Burley it and they will come.