The Best Marine Butyl Tape for Your Boat
Once, butyl tape was the go-to sealant for boats’ fiberglass hulls, which meant that few people outside the boating industry ever heard of it. Today, butyl tape is still a great option for sealing fiberglass boats, but a growing number of boaters are also using it to seal wood boats and even fiberglass kayaks. As long as you follow the instructions and use it correctly, butyl tape is a great choice for any boat. Here are our recommendations for butyl tapes that are available in several colors and lengths.
| # | Name | Preview | Rating | Action |
| 1 | XFasten Butyl Putty Tape, Gray, 1/8-Inch x 3/4-Inch x 30-Foot, He |  | 8.9 | |
| 2 | TAPEM Butyl Tape – 1/8″ x 3/4″ x 30 ft – White Butyl Sealant Tape |  | 8.7 | |
| 3 | Second Skin Butyl Sealant Tape – Butyl Rubber Sealant, Multi-Purp |  | 8.0 | |
| 4 | XFasten Butyl Seal Tape, White, 1/8-Inch x 3/4-Inch x 30-Foot, Le |  | 7.9 | |
| 5 | Kohree Butyl Seal Tape RV Putty Rubber Sealant Tape White, 1/8-In |  | 7.8 |
Our Methodology for Testing
We ran a series of tests on each tape to find out how well each adhesive stuck to different substrates and how easy it was to remove with a razor blade.
For our first round of testing, we used the tapes to seal plastic window frames and doors in a set of patio furniture. We started by sealing ikea-style flat-pack furniture, pieces that come with preinstalled plastic window frames and doors. To do this, we simply cut the tape to length and firmly pressed it into place along the edges of the plastic window frames and doors.
To test removability, we cut the tape into 1-inch-wide strips and placed them on a painted cinder block wall. We then sprayed the tacked tape with warm water from a garden hose and checked how easily it came off the wall.
After observing the results, we repeated this test with butyl tapes from Beacon and 3M, using both their standard 1-inch tapes and their thicker 2-inch tapes. We also wrapped a couple of spare boat windows with the 2-inch tapes to see how well they stood up to the elements.
To check for adhesion strength, we applied each tape to a wooden door frame, then pulled at the corners with an install-grade grip tape remover tool. We also checked how well each tape adhered to a clean concrete wall.
XFasten Butyl Putty Tape, Gray, 1/8-Inch x 3/4-Inch x 30-Foot, He
Why We Loved It
If you’re looking for a superior butyl tape that can be used for a variety of tasks and is easy to use and clean up, we recommend the XFasten Butyl Putty Tape.
In our testing, the XFasten tape was the easiest to work with and clean up. It is thicker than the typical butyl tape and therefore easier to apply, thanks to its wider operating temperature range. It also has the smoothest release liner of the butyl tapes we tested.
It’s a little more expensive than the other butyl tapes we tested, but it could save you time and hassle in the long run. It’s one of the only butyl tapes that can be removed and cleaned up easily long after it’s installed.
TAPEM Butyl Tape – 1/8″ x 3/4″ x 30 ft – White Butyl Sealant Tape
Why We Loved It
Butyl tape is tougher, more reliable, and more versatile than other options. Our pick, the TAPEM Premium Butyl Tape, has all the right features. It’s easy to apply, it works in a wide range of temperatures, and it’s cheaper than most other butyl tapes.
It’s available in a wide range of lengths, it has a generous amount of butyl rubber on the tape, and we’ve never had a problem with it since we’ve been recommending it since 2016.
It also comes with a plastic knife that won’t scratch the surface when you’re cutting the tape.
Second Skin Butyl Sealant Tape – Butyl Rubber Sealant, Multi-Purp
Why We Loved It
The Damplifier Butyl Sealant Tape is a premium butyl rubber tape that’s pliable, sticky, and tough enough for any DIY project. It’s double-sided, so it flexibly seals a variety of gaps.
It’s waterproof, chemical-resistant, temperature-resistant to 200°F, and very pliable to flatten or stretch. It often beats caulk, glue, or other sealant tape.
This butyl tape is 1/2” wide and 1/4” thick, so it seals thicker gaps, but it’s still flexible enough to flatten out as thin as you want. It adheres to metal, wood, glass, and masonry, and it’s often used to create a seal or isolate rattling parts in any automotive application (car, truck, RV, boat, camper van) and around the house (window, screen door, skylight, vent, metal roof).
It’s quick and easy to adhere, and it creates a watertight seal, making it an excellent window weld. Damplifier is proudly made in the USA.
We’ve used it in our vehicles to re-attach a vapor barrier, mount subwoofers, or as taillight/headlight sealant. In an RV or camper van, this flexible sealant is used as putty tape to seal windows or corners.
XFasten Butyl Seal Tape, White, 1/8-Inch x 3/4-Inch x 30-Foot, Le
Why We Loved It
Our top pick is the XFasten Butyl Tape, which is a professional-grade sealant that can easily replicate how pros seal their roofing or windows both in looks and functionality. It installs without gaps and can reliably shut off moisture, vapor, corrosive chemicals, and other leakages.
It can be painted over, making your installation area a seamless, neat, and heavy duty water-tight workspace. It’s also easy to install on tight corners, unusual curves, textured, uneven, and most jagged surfaces, and has a long shelf life.
We found it to be the most compatible with all types of surfaces, including rubber roofing, galvanized metal, frosted fiberglass, wood, textile, plastic, aluminum, and most typical RV, home, and auto surfaces, too.
It’s also a sound dampener, rattling and wire coiling on automobile doors and interior, RV, Campers, and even mechanical keyboards.
For easier handling, it is recommended to chill the butyl tape in a fridge or freezer 6 hours before use.
In addition, the XFasten Butyl Tape’s adhesive liner has an anti-coagulation compound that prevents the tape from sticking to itself or the paper liner, making for an easy and quick release.
Our panel found it to be the easiest to install and most efficient in terms of time and material use, sealing more area in a shorter period of time than other tapes.
The XFasten Butyl Tape is manufactured through a single-batch roller that incorporates the butyl rubber in one continuous roll under a 1-inch core. This process ensures that the Vacuum Bag Sealant Tape will dispense smoothly without breaking or sticking to the liner, allowing faster repairs.
And, unlike most Rubber Headlight Butyl Glazing Tapes, the XFasten Butyl Tape is easy to remove after years of use, too. If you need to remove it, it’s the easiest to clean up compared with the other tapes we tested. In addition, the XFasten Butyl Tape has a long shelf life and is easy to install.
Kohree Butyl Seal Tape RV Putty Rubber Sealant Tape White, 1/8-In
Why We Loved It
The Kohree Butyl Seal Tape is a professionally formulated butyl tape that looks and feels like a big-brand pro-grade product, but it’s a fraction of the cost.
It has the same elastic, smooth, and corrosion-resistant properties as our top pick, and it seals as well as the competition, so you can get the same professional-level results as a pro.
The tape is easy to apply, with a smooth, sticky surface that makes it easy to install on tight corners and unusual curves.
It works well on most surfaces, including glass, wood, metal, concrete, vinyl, marble, tile, bricks, plastic, and even fabric and concrete (although we don’t recommend it for those applications).
It’s a great all-around tape, and it’s the best choice for most people, especially if you need a butyl tape that’s portable and easy to store. The Kohree Butyl Seal Tape is a butyl tape that comes in a convenient, portable roll, which makes it easy to store and carry around.
It has a great all-around performance, sealing just as well as the more expensive tapes from big-name brands.
It’s also an easy-to-use, smooth, sticky surface that makes it easy to install on tight corners and unusual curves.
It works well on most surfaces, including glass, wood, metal, concrete, vinyl, marble, tile, bricks, plastic, and even fabric and concrete (although we don’t recommend it for those applications).
It’s a great all-around tape and the best choice for most people, especially if you need a butyl tape that’s portable and easy to store.
Go Through These Factors Before Clicking “Add to Cart”
We’ve found that most butyl tapes perform just fine for most boats, especially if the seams are properly prepared before you seal them up. But there are a few factors that we think make some butyl tapes better than others.
Here’s what we consider when choosing tape:
UV and Air-Induced Aging
Butyl tape ages slowly in sunlight and over time loses its elasticity, becoming brittle and cracking. This is called creep deformation. The rate of age-related creep is affected by how much UV light the tape is exposed to, how well it’s packed in its cardboard tube, and whether or not it’s been left out on the shelf.
All manufacturers warn against using old tape. But since there are no standards specifying how long butyl tape should be good for once it’s been unsealed, we sought out recommendations from experts and looked at expiration dates.
We also conducted a simple test to see which brand of tape lost the most elasticity after being exposed to UV light (albeit artificial UV).
What makes butyl tape the best option for marine applications?
Butyl tape is the best option for marine applications because it is highly waterproof, provides a strong seal, is resistant to extreme temperatures and UV rays, and is very easy to apply. It also has excellent adhesion qualities, making it ideal for a variety of marine applications.
How long does butyl tape last when exposed to saltwater?
Butyl tape can last up to five years when exposed to saltwater. However, this lifespan may be reduced depending on the exposure levels and other environmental factors.
Are Double-Sided Butyl Tapes Good for Marine Application?
Double-sided butyl tape is an ideal choice for marine applications due to its waterproof and airtight properties. The tape is made from a combination of polyisobutylene and tackifiers, which makes it an excellent choice for marine applications. It can be used to seal areas such as around windows, doors, and other exposed areas.
What temperature range is butyl tape suitable for?
Butyl tape is suitable for temperatures ranging from -30°F to 300°F (-34°C to 149°C).
Is butyl tape resistant to ultraviolet radiation?
Yes, butyl tape is resistant to ultraviolet radiation.
How can butyl tape be safely removed from surfaces?
Butyl tape can be safely removed from surfaces by heating it with a heat gun or blow dryer and then using a putty knife or razor blade to scrape it off.
