Mast boot tape, what am I missing?

lbdavis · #1 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008

I bought a roll of mast boot tape from WM. When I tried to apply it, the tape appeared to have no adhesion at all. Is there some type of catalyst I'm missing here? Heat?

knothead · #2 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008

The mast boot tape is just like rigging tape. I think it is called self-amalgamating. It only sticks to itself.
It can be stretched up to 6 times it's length and then when pressed to itself it sticks.

sailingfool · #3 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008

As KH said, the tape sticks to itself, BUT you have to stretch it adequately to active the stickness, check the box for instructions...

lbdavis · #4 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingfool

check the box for instructions...

huh?

It actually came with no box. Just a little tag with no pertinent information on it.

I tried the stretch thing. Maybe I need to stretch it more...

Thanks!

labatt · #5 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008

Pick a spot on the mast to start from. Have someone hold the end there. Stretch it until it becomes approximately half it's normal width and keep wrapping it over itself. It will adhere to itself, fuse and become one mass over a few minutes.

ericsmith3d · #6 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008

I've never used it, but I would imagine that starting from the bottom and working up would be better, the overlap would be like the shingles on a roof.

poopdeckpappy · #7 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008

I had the same problem with that kind of boot tape,someone here ( I think it was Freesail ) at sailnet suggested some kind of roofing tape ( I think that's what it was ) from HD; I tried it and it has worked great so far, and it's been since last fall..........

I also had my canvas guy make a real nice mast boot cover,so it looks pretty clean

lbdavis · #8 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008

I tried stretching the Hades out of that tape this evening with a second set of hands and had no luck. Friggin' West Marine...

I would like to have a nice boot made up, but I'm not un-stepping my mast until next fall - at the earliest...

otaga05 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008

There are universal vinyl boots that you can buy for about $28. I held off buying one last season because I thought you needed to unstep the mast to put it on. When I opened the box it came with a small tube of vinyl cement and instructions on how to install the boot on a mast that was already stepped.

sailingdog · #10 (**permalink**) 05-14-2008

Can you post a photo of the tape and box. It might not be the self-fusing tape everyone is thinking it is...but without a photo...can't really help you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbdavis

I tried stretching the Hades out of that tape this evening with a second set of hands and had no luck. Friggin' West Marine...

I would like to have a nice boot made up, but I'm not un-stepping my mast until next fall - at the earliest...