Make Quick Repairs With the Best Marine Adhesives

Buying Guide to Finding a Marine Adhesive

The marine adhesive is quite useful for emergency repairs, but you need to be sure you have the right type for the best results. Below, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about marine adhesives. Let’s take a look!

What Is Marine Adhesive?

Marine adhesive refers to any type of adhesive that’s used for marine applications. Marine adhesive differs from a regular adhesive as the formula in the marine adhesive is designed to be able to withstand harsh conditions, particularly seawater, freshwater, and moisture. Because saltwater is especially damaging, it’s important to invest in an adhesive that’s uniquely formulated to handle such tough conditions.

Marine adhesives can be separated into two categories: above the waterline and below the waterline. These adhesives differ greatly from one another and it’s very important to understand the difference before buying the one you need.

What Are the Types of Marine Adhesives?

Above the waterline adhesives

These types of adhesives are applied to areas above the waterline. In other words, any area that isn’t the bottom of the hull. Adhesives used above the waterline are durable, long-lasting, and can handle varying weather conditions. They’re also naturally water-resistant, though this doesn’t mean they’re entirely waterproof.

One extremely important thing worth noting is that if the adhesive is advertised for above the waterline use, you must never use it for repairs beneath the hull or for anything related to leaks. While they work to some degree, they are not nearly as reliable as adhesives made for repairs below the waterline.

Below the waterline adhesives

Adhesives that you apply below the waterline are tougher than regular adhesives. These come in the form of sealants that help seal holes and cracks beneath your boat’s hull. Because they help prevent water from rushing into your boat, these adhesives take quite a while to cure.

All-purpose adhesives

These types of adhesives work both above and below the waterline. Because of this, all-purpose adhesives are great to have in your boat for emergencies as you can use them whenever the need arises. All-purpose adhesives aren’t useful for any specific type of damage or repair, so they may not be as reliable as another specific type of adhesive.

Things To Consider When Buying Marine Adhesives

Curing time

The curing time of an adhesive refers to how long it takes before the formula settles and solidifies. After curing, the adhesive becomes bonded with the surface that it’s connected to. Curing time can vary greatly between products. Some may only take hours while others need entire days to cure properly.

Because curing time can vary by quite a bit, it’s important to keep it in mind when picking a product. Just because a curing time is shorter doesn’t mean it’s better. In fact, some of the more potent sealants and adhesives have relatively long cure times.

Method of application

Marine adhesives come in differently designed packages. Some of them are packaged in small squeeze bottles. Others are stored in syringes that you can use to apply the formula directly to the boat. There also may be adhesives that come with tools to help assist application. No matter how it works, be sure to check and see if the method of application will work for you. All of them are fairly self-explanatory, but some of them are easier than others, which you may prefer if you’re relatively new to boating.

Size or amount

Finally, the sheer volume of the adhesive is also a factor worth considering when thinking about marine adhesives. Marine adhesives can last for quite a while, but there’s only so much adhesive you can get per bottle or container. The simplest solution is to buy more adhesive, but that may be an issue if you have a tight budget or if you don’t have a lot of space to store such items on your boat.