4200/5200 are both great products they will both come apart and in most cases bring other parts with them. 4200 is still not considered removable even by 3M, it just has less polyurethane and is a bit more forgiving. Life Seal is a mix of polyurethane and silicone so it bonds and seals for use above and below the water line but is much more forgiving if it has to be removed. Years ago I quit saying "This will never have to come apart again" so I switched to Life Seal for sealing but still keep the 3M products around for the permanent repairs that I do not want to come apart.

and then
http://www.3m.com/product/informatio...e-Sealant.html

If you have to remove something with 3M 5200...this stuff works...

http://www.marineformula.com/

If you take a tube in your hand and look at them the 5200 has permanent and the the 4200 is in the middle between that and removable. Just saying and not looking to argue about it (I just work with it every day). As far as the remover troper posted good luck with that if you need it off and plan on working on it in your life time. Yes with time it will take off the the polyurethane you can see but you might as well buy some Slick50 then you can drain your oil and forget about oil changes (truth in advertising.......do you believe everything you see/read)

Who sells life seal?

It is a Boat Life product I get from Boaters Value.

Boat us and west marine ,,if you get the west marine brand i was told it is also life seal.. i still use 4200 tho,,life seal dont bond as good,,just saying..to remove 5200 and 4200 i use a port a power then move the transom just enough to get a .005 piece of piano wire behind it to cut through it and it dont hurt the gel or fiberglass..

Hi Brian, what is the difference with the life seal vs. life caulk? After reading on the site I am unable to determine.

I'm looking to replace some thru hull fittings above the waterline. Was going to use 4200, now I'm curious.

Thanks.

4200 is an Adhesive, that is why we use it .I'd rather it be a little tuff to remove than not stick very well .My experience with 4200 (not 5200) is it will come apart if necessary.....Once 5200 has dried you could pull the fasteners and still have the parts stuck.And in fact ,as you obviously know damage the boat trying to take apart. But I don't want to argue either .To each his own ..I agree with you on attempting to use any kind of remover for 4200/5200 ..The stuff you are seeing isn't holding it down .It'd Take a few years to maybe kinda wick up under the edges of a fitting .Probably works once you have pried stuff apart and are just looking at thin coating..

I was referring to the stringer section that is forward of the motor mounts. To update, my iphone got water logged and I'm without a phone( have been for the last few days). I cut out a portion of the transom and the only part that was wet, with hardly any rot( don't even think it qualifies as such), was right under that leaking stud. Everything else was solid wood. Used a small paddle to do some exploratory on the stringers, all dry solid wood. Once my cell phone is replaced or is working again, I will update with pics. My Rotozip saw made quick work of this task! Thanks for all of the replies.