How lazy can I be - seam filling

[gimmellsmom]

I have some seams that have shown leaks when hauled in October. I would assume I should repair these spots before I put new bottom paint on. After I've scraped off the existing paint, applied my CPES and my red lead primer... do I have to scrape out the whole seam or can I just patch where the leaks appeared? Should the cotton (assuming that's whats in there) be removed & replaced or can I put more in and then seam compound - or only seam compound if I find the cotton in good shape?

Yes, I know this is being lazy - but given the challenge I will have with climate vs. launch I'm trying to save time where possible. I will only have so many weeks between when its warm enough to do any of this and launch date in May.

[BrianM]

If you have a leak, the cotton or oakum is not doing its job. If you can eyeball the suspect cotton or oakum (scrap away the paying compound), you should be able to judge whether it is rotten or not. If questionable, rake it out and put in new material. Getting the right amount in the seam and putting enough pressure on it take practice, but I've managed to teach myself enough to make my seams leak free by comparing my "corking" to existing "sound" seams.

Of course, prime then pay the seams afterward.

Good Luck