Bedding Compound

[MABell]

Have to re-bed everything on the deck this year.
I know this topic has been discussed in the past - but what is your preferred bedding compound today?
THX in advance.

[Pblais]

I like the Silkaflex products. You can over apply it and it gushes out. That is not a bad thing. Silkaflex is easier to clean up the stuff that gushes out and a sharp blade will trim it perfectly clean. Wait for it to dry and then it's a snap. It does not set hard but stays very soft. It will come off should you need to take it off easily.

If you don't have access to that, Boatlife is easily available and I think better than the 3M or the West marine products. They all work but I find them messy and you need to tape off the area or be cleaning it up longer then to do the job. Just don't use 3M 5200. It is actually a pretty poor bedding compound with few exceptions and is a very big pain to remove let alone clean up.

[Sailmonkey]

I prefer polysulfide (101 or life caulk) Polyurethane (5200 or life seal) is just too much, I'd like to re-seal these fittings someday without removing the gelcoat!!
I've also had the best luck by running a counter sink into the glass before re-bedding, this creates a low spot to collect the sealant.

[MABell]

There seems to be some choices in the Sikaflex option. From their web site:

Sikaflex®-221 is a high-quality multi purpose non-sag 1-c polyurethane sealant
Sikaflex®-252 is a polyurethane adhesive with extremely high thixotropy and high strength (whatever that is).
Sikaflex®-201US is a 1-component, flexible, polyurethane-based, elastomeric sealant, adheres to a wide range of substrates, many without primer
THX

[Maine Sail]

Polyurethane: I like Sika 201-US, no shrink, +/-25% allowable joint movement, 550% elongation at break, and rather low adhesion, 175 PSI, for a polyurethane.

Polysulfide: For a polysulfide I prefer 3M 101..