Sikaflex: A sailor's secret weapon...

Captain Coco
Oct 23, 2019
2 min read

Intrepid withstood many winter storms abandoned in the Choquer & Son's Shop yard.

She braved the cold, wet, west coast weather alone, unattended, and unloved.

The combination of poor ventilation and moisture make for the perfect breading grounds for mold and mildew to manifest. There were traces of it here and there, but for the most part I knew it would be manageable with a little bit of love and some elbow grease. Thankfully, the previous owner winterized her well so only surface mould was present.

I used an anti-mould cleaning spray to clean all the fibreglass and wood surfaces in the cabin. Disclaimer: I'm not here to market products, but merely to share my experience with you. What worked for me may also help you out too...and let me tell you, this shit works. Three winters later and mould has yet to return... muahahahaha!

Another way to prevent mould and mildew growth is to seal any areas that moisture can hide and accumulate. This sailor's secret for sealing seams is simple: Sikaflex.

For a long time, I was unaware that there were any other brands of caulking. Sikaflex has always been my Dad's 'go to' for sealing up seems... Another inherited tool of choice.

I keep a tube on deck at all times, because you just never know, right?

Most of the surfaces in the cabin are fibreglass which is easy to maintain in comparison to wood. I wanted to make sure all the wood surfaces in the cabin were sealed and painted to protect from any future mould growth. After waiting 24 hours to clean off the anti-mould spray, I sanded, and caulked all seams, taped, and painted.

I keep a tube on deck at all times, because you just never know, right?

TIPS:

Make sure to wear gloves - caulking is next to impossible to get off your hands!
Cut end of caulking tube on an angle for precision
Tape areas before caulking for clean lines and to avoid making a mess, remove immediately after application
Apply less than you think you need, and smooth over with a finger
Have a rag handy to clean up any excess caulking
Use a long screw or nail to cap your tube of caulking when finished to avoid product drying out for future use