HI all! I am working on a smaller ship right now (I will do a build thread when I get a bit further along) and am considering my deck options. I think, since I want to save weight, I am going to do something like a 1/16 plywood or ABS deck. However, I am not going to the cap rail/deck where you have a 1/8 cap that is glued to the subdeck and a removable deck that fits inside the cap. I was just going to do a single piece that is attached directly to the subdeck. However, I am trying to figure out how to seal this. Ideally I would use some kind of gasket that would seal the weather deck when it is screwed onto the subdeck. I just can't think of something that would work. What about some type of rubberized glue that I brush on top of the subdeck that would then act as a kind of gasket? Any suggestions? Thanks!
Silicone caulk. Put a bead around the edge and spread it with your finger. For a lightweight deck, have you considered thin aluminum flashing?
Yup. I'd suggest putting vaseline on the underside of the weather deck and the silicone on the subdeck. Once you put them together and the silicone cures it makes pulling to the deck off pretty easy and you get a good seal. (then wipe the excess vaseline off everything that isnt needed for the seal and just causes a mess.)
I use only silicone 1 it is the stinky stuff (acidic acid smell), it will cure well at normal temp. Silicone 2 has problems curing when air isn't present (like between two surfaces)
The Vaseline is there so the silicone only sticks to one side, you don't need it after the silicone cures. You could use it all the time if you wanted but that would probably get pretty messy.
