I'm glad the video was helpful and thanks for telling me about the Practical Sailor article on marine sealants. I enjoy and trust that publication, it's helped me for many years with my sailboat. I'm still kicking myself for using the screws in this RV skylight attachment, I should have known better. I had a nice, clean opportunity to avoid the screws and rely soley on the strength and sealing ability of the marine sealant. I hope your ongoing projects go well. Thanks for watching and for your meaningful comment.

I'm sorry. I know I can ramble. I hope you find something that helps you.

I'm with you, 100%. I must go back and watch this part of my video again, because shooting sealant into the holes before laying a broad bead of sealant for the flange to sit on is something I always do on my boat. I hope I did it here and if not, I've screwed up. Hopefully though, there was enough sealant that was forced into the holes due to pressure of the flange being placed on the bead of sealant. In any case, you're absolutely right and I appreciate you commenting about this. Cheers!

@ThisOldRV2023 i thought about squeeze out going around the screw as well but I would have pumped the holes anyhow. Maybe you did it and it just didn't make the video!! That was a great job though! I inherited my mom's 2005 Doubletree Mobile Suites 5th wheel recently and I have ZERO clue what I am doing so I'm watching videos for tips and tricks

After chatting with you yesterday, I did go back to my original video footage and luckily, I found video frames of me pumping sealant into each hole as I laid my first bead of sealant along the flange line. I wish I had shown this in the published video. I think all I showed was a double bead line of sealant with no mention of pumping the holes. Now I can relax, and thank you for kindly suggesting that this would be a good idea. I bet your Mobile Suites 5th wheel is a gem. I have the impression they are very well made. Heavy and well constructed. One tip that you may wish to consider if you are inspecting your roof and may need to replace something like the skylight as I did - I wish in hindsight that once I had plugged the original holes in the fibreglass roof with epoxy, that I had not re-drilled these holes to align with the flange holes in the skylight. I wish instead that I had just used the Sikaflex sealant adhesive without any screws. I know from my experience with my sailboat that this sealant is truly an adhesive as well, and it would be strong enough to hold the skylight in place - eliminating the need for any holes that penetrate the roof. I try to eliminate roof penetration as much as possible. I hope this helps, and I wish you fun and success with all your projects that I'm sure you're lining up.

Hey, that's great, I'm happy you use it too. A lot of people have not heard of it before. All the best!

Hey, that's great, I'm happy you use it too. A lot of people have not heard of it before. All the best!

I'm really glad you found it helpful. Thank you for telling me. I hope you have a pleasant weekend, bye for now.

Oh yippee!! Your news is the best I could ever hope for. I love ice cream, you've made my day. All the best.

You have such a big heart, thank you! You are very kind. I will take care and yes, I will listen to Micheila. She already has a recovery training schedule laid out, I'll be at her mercy! See you as soon as I can come back. All the best!

Yes, you got it. Oh dear, 3 replacements! If you were closer I'd meet you for coffee and listen to your story. Hopefully you're doing well now. Thanks for the well wishes, I appreciate it.

@ThisOldRV2023 yeah I found my way of recovering was un orthodox according to doctor and recovering was likely more painful but much quicker. Walking without aids next day.

I've heard that you have to work through the pain and become mobile quickly. Sounds like you hit the mark. Glad you're through it all, happy knees!

@ThisOldRV2023 I had my first one in my 30s in edmonton they were testing a new machine that went on in recovery was suposed to run about an hour. It kept my leg moving and bending the knee to about 80 degrees. 8 or 9 hours later in my room the machine still running when the doctor checked on me. He was mad the nurses didn't take it off 🤣

But as a result next morning in physio I could easily bend my knee to 90 degrees and had lots of strength. Was able to stand and take steps un aided I could just carry the walker in front of me. Every one after that I just keep bending my knee after surgery to 90 and start walking same day. Last one I got kicked out of the hospital because they told me I need to use my crutches so I just carried them when I would walk to the bathroom or do a lap to the nursing station. Then when I started physio at local hospital in hudson bay I walked in carrying my crutches and she did an assessment and couldn't believe it was only 2 weeks post surgery and had to double check hospital records. Told me I was already past where the like to see patients at 4 months and told me I did not need physio. So yes push it to 90 same day keep it up don't let your ligaments scar down from the surgery. It hurts like walking on a compound fracture but it heals faster when stressing the implants.

Thank you, my friend. Back as soon as I can.

Ok Harold, I promise to do so. Thanks for your well wishes.

Thank you, I really appreciate you wishing me well. All the best.

You too buddy, thanks for caring. Cheers!

Thanks, Mark. I'll race you around the block when we hit AZ in February!

Thanks a bunch, Brian. Please say hi if you're down this way. I'll still be alive!

@@ThisOldRV2023 I will definitely look you up if I get down your way.

Thank you, your kind words mean a lot to me, to us. All the best, see you again as soon as possible.

I get what you are saying, it's a logical thought to have after watching what I did to attach this skylight. Another viewer commented just before your comment came in, and he expressed similar concerns. I hope you don't mind that I have copied my reply to him, to pass along to you. While you may not agree with the process I follow, all I can do is go with my experience over the past 24 years on my sailboat, and feel comfortable with it on my RV. I do appreciate you commenting as you have. It's important as part of this discussion. Ok, my reply follows - this was to a person who described himself as repairing RV's for a living. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and your thoughts. I respect you for your obvious knowledge of RV repair and I understand what you are saying in your message to me. Taking away none of your experience and knowledge, I hope you will consider that there are other ways of sealing attachments. While I do not have the experience you have with RV's, I do have considerable experience in the marine world, working on boats - and this is the experience I tried to share in this video. A fellow sailor and aircraft tech, who was also responsible for sealing aircraft windows, taught me years ago how to seal marine attachments on my newly acquired sailboat. That was 24 years ago. I still have this sailboat and I have consistently used the method shown in the video to either attach new fittings or remove and re-install old fittings with complete success over the years. These fittings have included all stanchions, winches, cleats, ports, (windows), hatches, rigging fittings - essentially, everything that is attached to the deck of my sailboat. In many cases, I can look below the deckhead to see the sealing effect of bolts and screws, giving me assurance this technique works. I can assure you that it does. With the correct marine sealant, and with sealant squeezed first into the holes before applying the sealing bead as I did in this video, fittings become nicely sealed around the base of the object and the sealant forms a tight bond around the screw or bolt as it penetrates the membrane that you're screwing or bolting to. The sealant also forms a nice seal under the screw and fender washer, eliminating the need to cover the screw head and fender washer with sealant. If you were to examine a nicely fitted yacht, you will not see sealant covering any screw heads - it's looks terrible and it's not necessary if the sealing job underneath is done properly. This was my whole point in the video - there is another way to seal attachments without lap sealant. Just look at the marine industry. I am taking a deliberate step to refit our RV to the marine standards that I am used to following on my sailboat. My sailboat has taken me offshore from Canada to Mexico and it remains well sealed. While some of these techniques may seem weird and perhaps ineffective or wrong to people who have worked primarily on RV's, I hope you will consider that if they are good enough to keep a boat on the water well sealed, they should be considered good enough for RV standards. Your comment that you are curious about the marine sealant I used gives me hope you will take a serious look at what I have done. Visiting a shipwright is also helpful, because their techniques are highly respected in the marine industry. Thank you again for sharing your opinion. This is a good discussion. And please remember - I value your opinion, I know you have the experience and knowledge about RV's. I just hope you will give some recognition to other ways of achieving an effective seal taken from the marine industry - without all the goop.

@@ThisOldRV2023 I will never again in my life use self leveling crap. as you said: it's ugly as all hell. tbh in your installation I would have used butyl tape and eternabond tape 6" over screws and edge of skylight. Definitely with round corners for tape too. But yeah I'm also using sikaflex; marine 291 etc a bit overkill tbh; I did some testing with 221 and its plenty for RVs and fresh water (rain) applications as silicone replacement.

Thanks for commenting. I guess I need to become familar with butyl tape, I've never used it before. I tend to stick with marine applications but this tape seems popular with rvers. I appreciate what you're saying, it's likely good insurance over the seams. And I agree with you about the two Sikaflex products you mention - 221 is just fine and 291 is a bit of an overkill. Your comments are helpful, thanks!

@@ThisOldRV2023 just be sure to get the real one not a copy or from a weird name supplier. friend of mine "saved big" on price and had to redo it all after a year. damaged roof, total mess and waste of a weekend. he's now into his 3rd year and it still looks brand new.

Oh dear, that does sound like a mess. Got it, thanks for the tip!

Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and your thoughts. I respect you for your obvious knowledge of RV repair and I understand what you are saying in your message to me. Taking away none of your experience and knowledge, I hope you will consider that there are other ways of sealing attachments. While I do not have the experience you have with RV's, I do have considerable experience in the marine world, working on boats - and this is the experience I tried to share in this video. A fellow sailor and aircraft tech, who was also responsible for sealing aircraft windows, taught me years ago how to seal marine attachments on my newly acquired sailboat. That was 24 years ago. I still have this sailboat and I have consistently used the method shown in the video to either attach new fittings or remove and re-install old fittings with complete success over the years. These fittings have included all stanchions, winches, cleats, ports, (windows), hatches, rigging fittings - essentially, everything that is attached to the deck of my sailboat. In many cases, I can look below the deckhead to see the sealing effect of bolts and screws, giving me assurance this technique works. I can assure you that it does. With the correct marine sealant, and with sealant squeezed first into the holes before applying the sealing bead as I did in this video, fittings become nicely sealed around the base of the object and the sealant forms a tight bond around the screw or bolt as it penetrates the membrane that you're screwing or bolting to. The sealant also forms a nice seal under the screw and fender washer, eliminating the need to cover the screw head and fender washer with sealant. If you were to examine a nicely fitted yacht, you will not see sealant covering any screw heads - it's looks terrible and it's not necessary if the sealing job underneath is done properly. This was my whole point in the video - there is another way to seal attachments without lap sealant. Just look at the marine industry. I am taking a deliberate step to refit our RV to the marine standards that I am used to following on my sailboat. My sailboat has taken me offshore from Canada to Mexico and it remains well sealed. While some of these techniques may seem weird and perhaps ineffective or wrong to people who have worked primarily on RV's, I hope you will consider that if they are good enough to keep a boat on the water well sealed, they should be considered good enough for RV standards. Your comment that you are curious about the marine sealant I used gives me hope you will take a serious look at what I have done. Visiting a shipwright is also helpful, because their techniques are highly respected in the marine industry. Thank you again for sharing your opinion. This is a good discussion. And please remember - I value your opinion, I know you have the experience and knowledge about RV's. I just hope you will give some recognition to other ways of achieving an effective seal taken from the marine industry - without all the goop.

@@ThisOldRV2023 awesome reply

I was a bit "windy" as usual, but I sure appreciate your comment. Thanks!

Thanks, Frosty. May I use your "real" name? Another great idea. Both of our cats have separate chronic issues that are expensive to keep on top of. We are already looking into pet insurance but these "pre conditions" make it a bit difficult. Thanks for suggesting this for all pet owners

@@ThisOldRV2023 Hi Bill, Yes not a problem, regards Harold.

Thanks, Harold.

Thanks for watching this old video of ours. It was our first video. We feel blessed every day that we found Squeaky twice. I bet Smudge will be better behaved. Bougie's sister in Mexico, who remained feral around the neighbourhood, was named Smudge. She was tough as nails. Love that name. Enjoy every moment with your pets!

Wow! You are ready to go with your pets. And I thought two cats was a challenge, you truly have your hands full. I bet they are loving companions and you wouldn't have it any other way. I think it's terrific that you plan to travel with them, they will bring you so much joy. And you certainly have their comfort and safety well in hand. You're a good mom!

It sounds like you have a great plan in place. We have two cats and a dog and they all have engraved name tags that include our cell phone numbers. if they get out its a quick and easy way for the finder to get in touch with you. No trip to find a chip scanner needed.

I know you're replying to Teri, but I should have mentioned this Frosty. Great idea. You suggested this to me some time ago and I forgot to say something about it. You've reminded me that we need to do this soon. Easy extra protection. Thanks!

@@2frosty4u75 Thank you Frosty, that had slipped my mind, I have 1 for the rescue, but I'll need to get the rest!

Yes, I think you are right! On the other hand, children turn into teenagers and that is a whole new ball game!

You know us well and all about Squeaky. I hope this video wasn't too much of a repeat from the earlier ones about Squeaky. Just trying to mix it up a bit with a somewhat different message. And yes, we really did have to learn the hard way. We were lucky, Squeaky was lucky. I hope you have a pleasant weekend, talk again soon I hope.

Hi. I'm not aware of one. I did an internet search after reading your question and could not find anything that pointed to an internal tracking device being available. I think most external tracking devices, such as ours, are typically attached to a "breakaway" collar to protect against the very thing you mention - a cat being choked while getting caught up on something. Our collars break away quite easily, almost too easy. I think if anything, you need to worry about the cat losing its collar before it can be successfully tracked. I hope this helps. Thanks for watching!

A harness may be a safer alternative than a collar.

This is a really good point. Safer as you say and more secure, less likely to come off. Thank you!

Absolutely, I agree. Great coaches and timeless. Thanks for adding them in. Cheers!

I get what you're saying, they are both sealants. The main difference is with the marine sealant, I'm using it only under the flange, relying on it to be the complete flange seal and seal around the screws and fender washers - and not using it to act as a self levelling sealant over the top of the flange as well where in my opinion, it's not necessary and only acts to hide problems that may lurk under all the goop. The result is a much cleaner looking seal attachment that you can inspect regularly. I hope this makes, sense. Thanks for watching and for your comment.

​@@ThisOldRV2023 on the topic of the sealant here. Why not take it a step further and seal on top from the screws to an inch or Two past the edge? This could elongate the life of the marine sealant and avoid water penetration down the screw threads. You could even get a water sealing tape as a way to seal; that's easily removable. I highly recommend at least getting screws with waterproof gaskets attached to them, the gasket goes around the washer edge and the screw head so when thermal expansion happens, the gasket flexes and protects entry points. 🤗🫡

These are very good suggestions, thank you. I agree that I need to take it a step further. Both techniques you mention would help, perhaps the first one at this point rather than having to draw out the screws to install new screws with waterproof gaskets. But I like the waterproof gasket idea and the way you explain it - I wish I had known about this before I started. I'm learning a lot. Thank you again.

Thanks for your thoughtful comment. It's a really good point. Your words along with several others have convinced me that I need to climb back onto the roof and coat the screw heads with sealant. I have been holding on to my experience with my sailboat, where for the past 24 years I have relied on the sealant that oozes up and down around the screws and fender washers to maintain an effective seal. On a boat, you don't want to have goop covering your screw heads because it looks terrible and as I've been taught, it isn't necessary. But with an RV, I can understand that this practice seems weird and not in keeping with what people do on RV rooftops. It's not a boat, I don't need to worry what the rooftop looks like as with a boat, so why would I take the risk - add some extra insurance and seal the screw heads with an extra layer of sealant. Your logic has me worried that I too will lose sleep and I want to sleep well. So, up I will go! I appreciate you for saying something. Thanks!

​@@ThisOldRV2023yes but you also dont need to gob on the self leveling sealant. Just use some butyl tape. Most of the job is being done by what youve already done. Youre just adding a little more protection and its easily removable.

Understood, really good point. Thanks!

Hi Harold! You're most welcome, I'm glad you found this information useful. Yes, we do feel confident in the old beast as we leave for our trip south annually, moreso each year as we get more things done and understand the motorhome better over time. It is peace of mind. Having said that, and while saving money big time on the painting in Mexico, and the original purchase price, costs are always there and we need to be prepared to continually invest in keeping it solid on the road. This isn't for everyone I guess, many people would prefer a newer model in which they believe they won't have to do this kind of thing. But, we know differently, right? Our next challenge before leaving this season is replacing the 27 year old NorCold refrigerator. We're now looking into a 12V compressor style. We want to get away from fridge propane usage. Stay tuned, and thanks so much for your interest and support for our channel.

Thank you for your kind words. I hope you don't mind that I looked at several of your videos that show your homemade off road camping trailer build. You have amazing skills. Precision, quality and creative work. I am humbled that you have complimented me because I highly respect and admire your abilities and the work you have done. Thank you!

Ahh... you are such a pleasant and caring person. Thank you. And yes, peppermint oil is something else and awful to spray on your face! I hope everything is going well as you get to know your RoadTrek. You'll be travelling soon! Take care too, all the best.

Ahh, thanks for your encouragement and support our friend. A screen for the outside vent is a perfect idea, I never thought of that. It's clearly a good solution. We will look for a way to install a screen, thanks!

@@ThisOldRV2023 I Took a quick look at your cover in this video at 8:50 and it seems like you could cut a rectangular piece of mesh and sandwich it between the cover and the backing plate where the vent pipes terminate. Remove the screws, insert mesh, reinstall Screws & Bobs your Uncle...lol

Your comment prompted me to zoom into my original video shot and you're absolutely right - it's an easy thing to do. Thanks for taking the time to point this out. Now I have no excuse not to do this quickly, before we put Monty away in the barn. I'll visit a local machine shop to find a small piece of stainless steel mesh. Bob, my uncle, will be proud!

@@ThisOldRV2023 I just sent you an email with 2 pictures.

Thank you! I received your information, very much appreciated!! I replied to your email.

Thanks for your kind words about our videos but wow, sorry about the failed peppermint spray. Your story pretty well shatters our theory of its effectiveness. I have to admit something. Just after I published this video early this morning, Micheila (my wife) watched it when she got up and was surprised that I was so enthusiastic about the peppermint spray. While it was worked for us (well, at least we believe it has worked), she told me it may not be that effective - she had read this. I should have talked more with her before publishing my statement on the video. And then with your story ... humm ... I better lay low for a while!

Hey Brian, these are good stories to remember. You were persistent and successful. I didn't think about wasps in the furnace exhaust, but now I can understand that it's a perfect tube for creating a nest. I suppose even small birds could make that a nesting area if the RV is left unoccupied long enough at the right time of year. Yikes, so many possibilities! I'm glad you're sharing this information. And yes, you know Monty's nose cone very well! Cheers!

Thanks a bunch! I'm glad you watched and found it useful. And yes, enjoying life is on my schedule for today, it's a good thing to remember to do!

Good for you for finding a good fix. Ants can be nasty to have around. Good ol' KZbin University for finding a solution!

Thanks, Frosty! Great to hear from you. We have friends in southern Arizona who have all sorts of ways of keeping rodents out of their vehicles, it's a huge problem for them. They use some electronic gizmos. I guess they're everywhere. Hope you have a pleasant weekend. And thanks for your interest and support, as always.

Thank you, for your kindness and support. It means a lot. I hope the info was helpful. All the best!

Thank you, at least, for the happy smile.

Don’t be so rude ! Practice gratitude !

@@rachelkelly7117 Don't take it personally and be judgemental. He even showed a caption of talking way too much. Just sharing realizing it is distracting in all videos on KZbin. The info. provided was helpful and clear in relation to the repair. Could of integrated butyl tape for a permanent solution. I've been there too.

Ok the three of us, let's be friends. I do ramble a lot, it's something I am trying to improve on our videos but remember, I'm an old fart and some things might take awhile to change. I'll get better, so now you have to stay with me to watch over this problem! As for butyl tape, it's something I have never used and I will try it in the future. I tend to rely on marine sealants because it's something I am familiar with having used them on our sailboat with success for many years. I guess I need to become familiar with RV products like butyl tape. Cheers to you both!

@@ta3355 I didn’t take it personally and I’m far from judgemental… messages or texts can be misconstrued. I apologise if I came across rude. I lost my daughter bc of bullying and I’m so sensitive to all this. 🪷

Thank you for suggesting this. I suppose it will be messy regardless of how you do it, but the grinder and wire wheel method does sound easier and faster. Ok, on my list to try next. I appreciate you mentioning this, I'm learning a lot with helpful comments like this. Cheers!

Thanks for watching and for your comment. I appreciate your comment and I am going to top off the screw heads with sealant. I've been relying on a technique I've use on my sailboat for many years, where the sealant that oozes up and down through the hole when pressure is applied has been enough to form a nice, tight seal around the screw head and fender washer - leaving a clean look for a boat when lightly cleaned off. But many viewers have advised me to still top off the screw head with sealant to prevent, as you have kindly said, an opportunity for liquid to get in. I need to listen, it's an RV and you and others have experiences to share that I'd be foolish to ignore. Thank you!

Thanks for your support, I appreciate it. I'm glad I didn't ramble on too long for you. After reading so many comments with helpful tips, like you are suggesting, I'm shifting my thinking and will place a dab of sealant over the screw heads to make contact with the polycarbonate. I've resisted because I've had great success on my sailboat for many years - relying solely on the original seal around the screw head and fender washer with sealant that has oozed up. But the dab of insurance on the RV roof seems sensible. I have not used eternabond before, I understand it is an excellent product, but I have a full tube of sealant so this time, I'll use the sealant. I will take a look at eternabond another time. I must try it. Thanks!

I have never used butyl tape but others have mentioned it as well. I must try it, sounds like a great product. I'm more familiar with marine sealants so that's what I went with. Time to educate myself on RV stuff and you're helping me to do that. Appreciate the comment. Thanks!

​@@ThisOldRV2023used to use butyl tape to bed deck hardware before tube sealant came along

That's interesting. Probably a lot of boats out there with the same stuff. Sounds like something to have on hand even on a boat for those times when you don't have a tube of sealant with you. Thanks for saying something.

@@ThisOldRV2023 here in Eu all window frames, doorframes and roofvents windows are mounted in the first place as per OEM specs for campers and caravans and what not, i assume its the same with boating...with butyltape.,if applied as i do it its a full gasket with self leveling properties on the outside, it lasts very long and due to its flexibility even after years the removal of frame window can be acheived in 1-2 Minutes

Greetings from Canada. I am pleased you have commented about Eu practices because I respect Eu build quality. We have a lot to learn from you. I like the idea of a full gasket and self levelling compound as you describe. I can understand the effectiveness and ease of removal. Thank you for sharing this information, it is helpful to me and I'm sure to others. All the best.

In hindsight, I wish I hadn't used screws. You're right. The skylight came predrilled with holes so I went straight to screws again. I didn't have to. I like the idea of using only a sealant adhesive to keep it down and the marine Sikaflex I used was probably strong enough to do the job. I have used it many times on my sailboat, for ports and deck fittings. I wasn't aware they are using tape on port lights, but I get it. I do know that 3M marine 4200 would be strong enough, 5200 even more so but terrible to ever get off. Ok, next time, no screws. I'm glad you said this.

@@ThisOldRV2023 good luck!

Thank you, we're slowly getting there. Must finish the painting of the wallpaper this week, alway more to do. Cheers!

Thank you, really appreciate you for saying this. And thanks for watching our video.

You're most welcome, glad you watched it, thanks! I bet you're better at lasting longer in your southeast Texas heat than we west coast Canadians are when the heat spikes a bit here. You'd laugh at us, we give up early and run for ice!

Can't argue with you. I'll do my best to shorten them up in the future. Sorry to put you through all of that.

Don't be sorry. You're thorough and some of us need that.

Thanks for your comment and support, I appreciate it.