Everything you ever wanted to know about our yacht seals!
21st May, 2019
Following our recent case study covering Jason's trip to France to sort out a hatch seal for a yacht owner, we really wanted to pick his brains a little more. After all, it's not every day that an Aquaseal representative gets to jet across the Channel for work!
AR: So, Jason, how much experience do you have working specifically with yacht owners?
Jason: I have over 30 years’ experience dealing with Captains, and Chief Engineers.
AR: What was going to France to inspect and take measurements for the seal in Nice like? Describe the overall experience!
Jason: This was the first time I had been requested to go to test the current door seal. It was an exciting journey, with flights, car hire, and hotel stopovers. The yacht was located in a lovely part of France – I did struggle with the language a little but still managed to find my way to the shipyard and carry out the full testing! The crew were very helpful and nice to deal with.
AR: So, Jason, what are the signs that a yacht seal needs repairing?
Jason: Well, normally the first thing is water ingress into the vessel, followed by staining of the vessel’s interior caused by water marks. All vessels are inspected by Lloyds of London (or another safety body) to say they are safe and seaworthy.
This normally means that for our clients, having the vessel sitting in the dock or harbour is costing them money, so we try to accommodate with quick deliveries, or we’ll offer advice about how to temporarily fix the issue until a new yacht seal can be made.
AR: That’s great! What kind of rubber is best for yacht seals and why?
Jason: There isn’t a best one. It depends on the area of the seal, and whether it’s going to be seen by people – if the yacht is expensive and white, normally the client won’t want to see big black rubber seals. Instead, they normally tend to go for white, nice-looking ones, which are more expensive to make.
AR: Do you know of any other rubber products that a yacht owner might want to contact you for?
Jason: Normally, people come to us for watertight hatch seals, or rear door seals.
AR: Are there any bespoke rubber products you could produce specifically for yachts?
Jason: We can make just about any shape and size of rubber product required. Just ask!
AR: And finally, when should a yacht owner get in touch with Aquaseal to order their bespoke seal?
Jason: At any time they need one! When making an order we need to give time to produce the item prior to any shipyard visit so it can be shipped to meet the vessel upon arrival. We do this for a lot of larger vessels, so the cost in dock is lowered by not having to wait for the seal to be made and then shipped.
If you’re looking for a bespoke yacht seal, we can help. Contact a member of the Aquaseal Team today on 0191 266 0934, or email enquiries@aquasealrubber.co.uk.
