Warning. 3M 4000 Failures.

[John Stone]

This just in from Practical Sailor.
https://www.practical-sailor.com/blog/p ... uv-failure


I experienced such a failure on my coaming allowing water to run under it and down across my bridge deck during the sail down to the VI from NC this past December.

[Paul D.]

Same exact thing here. Fixed it with latex caulk.

[Jim Walsh]

Back in May of 2016 I used this product to bed my midship hatch and a couple years later I used the same tube of leftover 4000 UV to bed a stanchion base. Since I have gone beyond five years perhaps I’ll be lucky and it will not fail. Fingers crossed.

[mgphl52]

Proper application of marine grade rubber butyl tape should correct that problem for *many* years!

[John Stone]

Proper application of marine grade rubber butyl tape should correct that problem for *many* years!

I have used a lot of butyl on the FR. It's great stuff just as you infer. But it's not appropriate for every project. For example it's not a good choice when the hardware or project is not through bolted. It's not appropriate if the product is not strong enough to withstand significant compression such as portlight trim rings, etc. It's a tool like any other tool. Right tool right job. And I don't think I would have used it for the coamings. When I rebel them I'll probably use mahogany colored BoatLife polysulfide or long pot life sika flex 291. The problem here is the product was defective.