best all around glue

My first post! I am starting down the road of no return. I have an old kayak I am renovating and will hand this down to my kids when I buy a new (X-factor?). I love to make my own inventions and what-nots so I look forward to all the cool gad-gits to come. I am 6'3" 270# hence the X-factor (any advice would be welcome). Back to the ? @ hand. In your humble opinions Ha! what is the best glue/sealer to use.

I believe this depends on what purpose you are using the glue for.  

For sealing up unused electronics connections on things like my fishfinder and VHF Radio and for sealing up my wire seals on my battery boxes I use 3M Marine Grade Silicone Sealant.  Good and flexible and long lasting, but could probably be removed fairly easily if you needed to.

For gluing stuff to the inside of my hull such as fishfinder transducers and fastners to retain my gear, etc... I use Marine Goop (the duct tape of the marine adhesive world IMO).  Not as flexible but a good bond if surfaces are prepped properly.

For other more demanding sealing purposes, such as gaskets between my scotty rodholder and the deck (in the splash zone), I use 3M 5200 Adhesive sealant.  This is a polyurethane adhesive / sealant.  This stuff is a little more messy to use, but provides a strong bond while still remaining flexible.   When I worked in the boat repair world in college, 5200 was the go-to material for sealing stuff below the waterline as well as above decks.

These are my preferences, others may surely have theirs as well.

Erik

P.S... I'm a big guy too... I've been paddling  a Malibu II all these years but am also seriously eyeing the X-Factor.

I picked up a tube of lexel from the local kayak shop.  It works pretty well to seal stuff (rod holders/rivets etc..).  I would go with something else for a transducer mount though.  I let mine cure for 3 days then put the yak back on its side for storage and it came out all crooked.  It was a b**** to clean up.

You guys speak of the best glue for sealing electronics, mounting transducers and making gaskets, but what about the best sniffing glue?  I prefer rubber cement.

6'3" and 270, you're a lightweight in my book. but i agree with you and eric, those x-factors look like a good fit. match one up with a custom rod, it might be too pretty to get wet!  without my old boat, hose clamps and duct tape, i may lose my "street creds".
  that 5200 glue works great, but wear gloves.

I used to use 3M exclusively. The cure time varies a great deal. I know there is a fast and slow cure, but how slow is slow? One time it was 5 days later and my transducer still hadn't cured. Now I use Marine Goop and I like it better.
It works on my transducer, my rivet holes before I sink the rivet, and I can put a thin coat of it on something that I don't want to rust. It also dries pretty clear.
It is available in most places that carry any kind of sporting/camping gear so it is easy to come by.
Tote

I am on the exact same page as Erik on this topic.  6-3 and any weight, and the X-Factor is a good choice...lot of room for big guys.

Thanks for the advice. I e-mailed a couple of you and thanks to the rest. Is there a tourney or gathering any time soon. I;d sure like to meet and see some Yaks for ideas. especially for the bigger guys.Even though I'm considered a light-wt by some.Chris! living in NCal means travel but I love Ft Brag and Mendo and have Family in San Lorenzo. Chris! i also travel to Sac a couple times a month. SEPT 1 dove season I'm gonna go kill something !!!!! Tight lines everyone!

The details aren't finalized, but there's a striped bass tournament on Lake Menodcino Saturday, September 24th.  Sean (scwafish) is organizing this and he owns a kayak business nearby (he even sells X-factors when he can get them in stock).  The tournament will include group camping which is a great way to meet other kayak fishers and check out there rigged kayaks.

Brian

Guys;

What is Marine Goop?  Brand etc, where does one find marine goop?  I picked up the 3M product from West Marine and used it on sealing my rod holder and so far so good.  

Here's the stuff...

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=32287

Erik

Marine Goop is also available at a lot of home improvement stores.  I get mine at Home Cheapo.