Flex Seal
An American brand of liquid-rubber sealants, waterproof tapes, adhesives, and related repair products.
Last updated August 31, 2026
Overview
Flex Seal is an American repair-products brand made by Swift Response, a family-owned company based in Weston, Florida. The company was established on February 28, 2011, and developed the brand around adhesive and sealing products that use liquid-rubber concepts to create waterproof or highly resistant bonds. Its best-known products include Flex Seal liquid sealant, Flex Shot, Flex Tape, and Flex Glue, alongside a wider selection of maintenance and surface-treatment products. The brand's public identity is closely associated with its television advertising and pitchman, Phil Swift, who is identified as the company's chief executive officer. Flex Seal's commercials typically present dramatic repair demonstrations intended to show the products working under unusual or visually memorable conditions. The most famous advertisement shows Swift cutting through the hull of a boat, applying Flex Tape to the opening, and then taking the repaired vessel onto a lake. The scale and theatricality of the demonstration made the advertisement highly recognizable and helped Flex Seal become an internet meme, particularly through edited clips and repeated references to Swift's energetic delivery and emphatic catchphrases. The boat demonstration also received independent public attention. In 2017, Inside Edition worked with the Good Housekeeping Institute and a marina on Lake Hopatcong to recreate the experiment. Water reportedly accumulated in the repaired boat, but the vessel remained seaworthy with a driver aboard. The test did not establish that every real-world repair would perform identically, but it extended the advertisement's reach and became part of the brand's public narrative. Flex Seal has expanded beyond its original liquid sealant positioning. Flex Shot was marketed as a caulk-like product that could be applied without a conventional caulking gun, while Flex Tape was positioned as a waterproof repair tape. Flex Glue was introduced as a broad-purpose adhesive. The company has also offered ancillary products under names including Block Out, Slick Fix, Maximum Traction, Foamazing, Blast Off, and Winter Wax, indicating a portfolio that reaches beyond household leak repair into surface protection, traction, cleaning or maintenance, and seasonal-use applications. The brand has also used sports sponsorship to increase visibility. From 2013 through 2019, Flex Seal sponsored JD Motorsports in NASCAR's Xfinity Series. Drivers associated with the sponsorship included Ross Chastain, Landon Cassill, and Jeffrey Earnhardt. During one 2017 race, Flex Tape was used in an on-track repair of crash damage to the sponsored car driven by Garrett Smithley, creating a real-world counterpart to the brand's repair demonstrations. Flex Seal remains primarily a consumer-facing repair and maintenance brand rather than a publicly traded standalone company. Public reference material identifies Swift Response as the producing family-owned business and gives no independently reported revenue, market-capitalization, or stock-listing information. Its competitive distinction rests on highly demonstrative advertising, an unusually recognizable spokesperson, and a broad set of easy-to-use products marketed for household fixes and general repair tasks.
History
Flex Seal was created by Swift Response, a family-owned company headquartered in Weston, Florida. The company was founded on February 28, 2011, and built its consumer brand around products intended to seal, bond, waterproof, or repair household and general-purpose surfaces. Rather than presenting the business solely as a conventional chemical-products supplier, Swift Response developed a strong direct-response advertising identity centered on visible demonstrations and the personality of Phil Swift, who serves as chief executive officer and the brand's principal pitchman. The product family is based broadly on liquid-rubber and adhesive technologies. Flex Seal serves as the core liquid sealant offering. Flex Shot was introduced as a caulk alternative designed to be applied without a conventional caulk gun, while Flex Tape was positioned as a waterproof tape for repairs. Flex Glue extended the brand into general-purpose bonding and was promoted as a fix-all adhesive. Additional products introduced under the broader portfolio included Block Out, Slick Fix, Maximum Traction, Foamazing, Blast Off, and Winter Wax. The available reference material does not provide complete launch dates, technical specifications, or a full chronology for these ancillary products. Advertising became the central turning point in Flex Seal's public recognition. A commercial featuring Phil Swift cutting through a boat hull and repairing the opening with Flex Tape became especially prominent. The demonstration's extreme visual premise, combined with Swift's loud and enthusiastic presentation, made the advertisement memorable beyond its intended product category. It was subsequently reused, remixed, and discussed as an internet meme. This visibility gave Flex Seal an unusually recognizable identity for a household repair brand and linked the company to a specific style of emphatic product demonstration. The boat demonstration was later examined through a 2017 collaboration involving Inside Edition, the Good Housekeeping Institute, and a marina on Lake Hopatcong. The recreation found that water began to collect in the repaired boat, although the craft remained seaworthy with a driver aboard. The result became part of the public discussion surrounding the advertisement, but the available reference does not document a regulatory finding, lawsuit, recall, or formal allegation of misconduct arising from the test. Flex Seal also pursued sports marketing. From 2013 to 2019, it sponsored JD Motorsports in NASCAR's Xfinity Series. The association included drivers such as Ross Chastain, Landon Cassill, and Jeffrey Earnhardt. In 2017, Flex Tape was reportedly used to repair damage sustained by the sponsored car driven by Garrett Smithley during a race. The incident reinforced the connection between the brand's advertising promise and a visible use in motorsport. The company is described in reference material as employing approximately 100 people at the time covered by that material, although no current employment figure is established here. Swift Response remains the identified producing company, and Flex Seal is not documented as a separately listed public company. No reliable financial figures, ownership details beyond the family-owned description, or standalone corporate website URL were supplied in the source material. The brand's current status is therefore best described as active, with its identity resting on a broad DIY repair portfolio and highly distinctive demonstration-led marketing.
- 2019Documented JD Motorsports sponsorship period ends
The documented Flex Seal sponsorship of JD Motorsports runs through 2019.
- 2017Boat advertisement is independently recreated
A collaboration involving Inside Edition, the Good Housekeeping Institute, and a Lake Hopatcong marina recreates the famous Flex Tape boat repair demonstration.
- 2017Flex Tape is used in a NASCAR repair
Flex Tape is used to repair crash damage to the sponsored JD Motorsports car driven by Garrett Smithley during a race.
- 2013NASCAR Xfinity Series sponsorship begins
Flex Seal begins sponsoring JD Motorsports in NASCAR's Xfinity Series.
- 2011Swift Response is founded
Swift Response, the family-owned company associated with Flex Seal, is founded on February 28, 2011, in the United States.
Products and positioning
A highly demonstrative, consumer-friendly repair brand focused on waterproofing, sealing, bonding, and practical do-it-yourself maintenance.
Flex SealLiquid rubber sealant
The core Flex Seal product is a liquid-rubber-oriented sealant marketed for coating, sealing, and waterproofing applications. It anchors the brand's identity and is presented as a consumer repair solution for surfaces that need protection from moisture or leaks. The available reference material does not specify a complete list of compatible substrates or technical performance limits.
Flex ShotCaulk alternative
Flex Shot is a sealant product positioned as an alternative to conventional caulk-gun application. Its consumer proposition is convenience: the product is designed to dispense directly, making it suitable for household sealing and repair tasks without requiring a separate caulking gun. Detailed formulation and current availability are not established in the supplied sources.
Flex TapeWaterproof repair tape
Flex Tape is a waterproof repair tape and the product featured in the brand's best-known boat-hull advertisement. It is marketed as a way to patch or seal damaged areas, with the promotional emphasis placed on its ability to adhere and resist water. The product also received unusual publicity when it was used to repair a sponsored NASCAR car during a race.
Flex GlueGeneral-purpose adhesive
Flex Glue is positioned as a broad-purpose adhesive intended to bond materials in general repair situations. It expands the brand beyond liquid sealing and waterproof tape into adhesive bonding. Reference material describes it as a fix-all adhesive but does not provide a complete technical specification, product chronology, or list of approved uses.
Block OutSpecialty maintenance product
Block Out is one of several ancillary products associated with the wider Flex Seal portfolio. The supplied reference identifies the product name but does not explain its formulation, intended surfaces, launch date, or current availability.
Slick FixSpecialty maintenance product
Slick Fix is listed among Flex Seal's additional products. Available reference material does not provide enough information to describe its function, chemistry, market positioning, or current status with confidence.
Maximum TractionSurface treatment
Maximum Traction is an ancillary product name in the Flex Seal portfolio. The name suggests a surface-traction application, but the supplied source does not provide technical or commercial details, so no more specific description is asserted.
FoamazingSpecialty maintenance product
Foamazing is identified as one of the brand's ancillary offerings. The available source does not establish its precise use, formulation, launch date, or present availability.
Blast OffSpecialty maintenance product
Blast Off is included among Flex Seal's additional product names. No sufficiently detailed product description or chronology is provided by the supplied reference material.
Winter WaxSeasonal maintenance product
Winter Wax is a seasonal or specialty product associated with the broader Flex Seal range. The available source names the product but does not document its exact application, formulation, launch date, or current retail status.
Flagship businesses
- Flex Seal
- Flex Shot
- Flex Tape
- Flex Glue
Marketing campaigns
- 2013JD Motorsports NASCAR Xfinity Series sponsorship
United States
Flex Seal sponsored JD Motorsports in NASCAR's Xfinity Series from 2013 through 2019, with drivers including Ross Chastain, Landon Cassill, and Jeffrey Earnhardt associated with the sponsorship.
Outcome. The sponsorship expanded the brand's visibility through professional motorsport and connected its repair positioning with a highly visible racing environment.
- Flex Tape boat-hull demonstration
United States
A television commercial features Phil Swift cutting through a boat hull, applying Flex Tape to the opening, and taking the repaired boat onto a lake. The highly theatrical demonstration became the brand's signature advertising moment and later circulated widely as an internet meme.
Outcome. The advertisement substantially increased Flex Seal's public recognition and gave the brand a distinctive meme-driven identity.
Brand decisions
- Expansion from liquid sealant into a broader repair portfolioProduct launch
The brand began with a liquid-rubber-centered sealing proposition but subsequently developed products covering caulking, waterproof tape, and general-purpose adhesive bonding.
What changed. Swift Response expanded the Flex Seal range with Flex Shot, Flex Tape, Flex Glue, and several ancillary products.
Aftermath. The expanded portfolio positioned Flex Seal as a broader consumer repair and maintenance brand rather than a single-product sealant label.
Leadership
| Name | Title | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Phil Swift | Chief Executive Officer and advertising pitchman | — |
| Phil Swift | Chief Executive Officer and television pitchman | — |
Recent events
- 2019Flex Seal ends JD Motorsports NASCAR sponsorship period
Flex Seal's documented sponsorship of JD Motorsports in the NASCAR Xfinity Series covered the period from 2013 through 2019.
Campaign - 2017Independent recreation tests Flex Tape boat repair
Inside Edition, the Good Housekeeping Institute, and a Lake Hopatcong marina recreated the advertised boat-hull repair. Some water entered the repaired boat, but the vessel remained seaworthy with a driver aboard.
Other - 2017Flex Tape used to repair a damaged NASCAR Xfinity Series car
Flex Tape was used during a race to repair crash damage to the JD Motorsports car sponsored by Flex Seal and driven by Garrett Smithley.
CampaignOther - 2017Flex Tape boat demonstration receives independent recreation
Inside Edition, the Good Housekeeping Institute, and a Lake Hopatcong marina recreated the commercial boat-repair demonstration. The repaired boat remained seaworthy with a driver, although some water entered the vessel.
OtherCampaign - 2017Flex Tape used to repair sponsored NASCAR vehicle
Flex Tape was used during a race to repair crash damage on a Flex-sponsored JD Motorsports car driven by Garrett Smithley.
CampaignOther - 2013Flex Seal sponsors JD Motorsports in NASCAR Xfinity Series
Flex Seal began a sponsorship relationship with JD Motorsports that continued through 2019 and placed the brand prominently in NASCAR competition.
Campaign - Flex Seal's boat-repair advertisement becomes an internet meme
The brand's television demonstration, in which Phil Swift repairs a boat hull with Flex Tape after cutting through it, became widely circulated online and generated meme-based attention because of its exaggerated presentation and Swift's enthusiastic delivery.
CampaignOther
Sources
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