Does your boat have tiny cracks that let water in? Say in teak decks . . . where water eventually can work its way into the deck core? Or around a port hole, again possibly letting water into the core? Hardware stress points can also cause cracks and leaks.
Some can be cured with sealant or butyl tape. But that’s not always practical . . . say with cracks in teak or with hairline cracks in fiberglass. Removing and rebedding hardware isn’t something that’s quick and easy, either.
Enter Capt. Tolley’s (formerly called “Captain Tolley’s Creeping Crack Cure”). It’s a very thin penetrating sealant that pulls itself into cracks by capillary action and cures to form a watertight seal. We used considerable quantities of it on our 30-year-old Tayana 37 (there’s a reason they’re called “Leaky Teakys”) and occasionally on our current boat.
We use it both for temporary and permanent fixes. Sometimes we know that a particular deck fitting, hatch or porthole really needs to be rebedded, but not now: sometimes the weather isn’t conducive, other times we’re traveling and sometimes we’re planning to do a bigger replacement in the future. So we needed something that was quick and could be done right then, in less than five minutes. Other times, such as with hairline cracks in the exterior teak, Capt. Tolley’s was our permanent fix.
There’s no prep to be done and you don’t have to take anything apart. Simply use the dropper bottle and put a few drops into the crack; as it disappears, add a few more drops. Wipe off any excess. It will pull itself laterally as well as follow any gravitational path that water would follow and will cure overnight. It has cured many little drips for us and I think it’s helped to keep water out of hidden places.
The big thing to know is that Capt. Tolley’s is not for big cracks. It is actually thinner than water and won’t “fill” a big crack. The company says that cracks have to be less than 1 mm wide. So — basically it’s for hairline cracks and you should not enlarge the crack to fill it. You can see their video at the end of this post.
We buy it from Amazon, rather than marine specialty shops (although most carry it). We find the 2-ounce bottle sufficient for our needs, but it does also come in an 8-ounce size.
Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
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Nikki Dowden says
It does work!
Jim Shell says
I have had mixed results, but usually it does ok. I use it as a temporary fix as a rule.
Stephen Poulson says
Have you tried it on white gel coat microcracks? Where the underlying fibreglass is in tact. Also, any discoloration with sun exposure?
The Boat Galley says
Yes, we have used it in that situation (crazing gelcoat is a fact of life on Gemini cats). It seems to seal them well so that we’re not getting water just sitting on the fiberglass. It is not noticeable where we got the excess wiped up quickly, but is where Dave forgot to do it (oops) and it has turned slightly yellow there.
Beth Wolfe says
Kyle Stryker – funny – this is the stuff Susan Miller was telling us about just before I left
Susan Miller says
I’m not just a pretty face – I am a know it all too lol!! 😊
Monika says
I swear by this stuff, use it around Windows on our Endeavour trawler cat. May trying it on some of the crazing that is pretty much everywhere on our boat as well The original name cracked me up as well!
Tom Richardson says
The Boat Galley is a great source of products and information.
Carolyn Shearlock says
Thanks Tom!
Anonymous says
It works!!
Anonymous says
John
Anonymous says
Jim Goring, might be a good idea to keep a bottle on hand
Anonymous says
Got some. Using it!
Anonymous says
Jim Goring I thinks it’s for hairlines cracks on a boat, and not for how you are using it.
Anonymous says
Captain Crack!
Pamela Harwood says
We swear by it on our old wooden boat!