Cape Dory 22... Is this on purpose?

[appletim1]

Check out these pictures of my half completed Cabin Hatch/Trunk Project. It appears the aft scuppers on both the port and starboard side have been "dammed" with caulk, while the forward scuppers on both the port and starboard side are open without any caulk.

What do you all think? On purpose, or an over eager caulking guy back in 1982?

Also, I'd be interested in what people thought regarding the type of caulk I should use to put all this back together, after the new wooden rails are installed.

Thanks everyone.

Tim Appleton
S/V Serenade
CD 22 #119

[Jim Walsh]

Sloppy caulking job. Better too much than too little, within reason.
Those ports were designed to drain any moisture which gets trapped. I would keep them free of caulk so they can continue to perform their job. I use Boatlife Life Caulk in that application. It will perform well for several years and allows you to dismantle it to refresh the caulk without damaging the mating component surfaces. I'm sure there are other polysulfide caulks available.

[appletim1]

Thanks Jim for the advice. The stuff they used before to seal it all up had a consistency similar to putty.