Adhesives and sealants have a long history in shipbuilding and marine industries, providing protection against water, chemicals, weather, and environmental degradation. In the earliest days of seafaring, natural sealants such as pine resins were cooked down and applied liberally, requiring regular re-treatments. Later, manmade derivatives such as “pitch” (a tar-like substance created from petroleum, coal tar, or some plants) proved to be more resilient.
Today’s products have come a long way, no longer representing the extreme hazards of resin or pitch while providing strong lightweight bonds to structural components and watertight sealing between substrates. The improved structural bonding capabilities support the use of lightweight one-piece composite hulls while reducing construction time and generally improving aesthetics. Durability, flexibility, and longevity of bonded parts are also improved with the use of adhesives; modern formulas exhibit improved UV and chemical resistance, as well as noise and vibration dampening.