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Front cabin window seals?

Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 9:07 am
by AlphaJustin
Is it possible just to reseal the front cabin windows on an f-25 without pulling the whole window apart? (I read the walk through on that and I am not ready for that yet) Mine started seeping and after winter expansion and contraction I am sure they will be leaking so I need to reseal them. Thanks for the advice.

Re: Front cabin window seals?

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 2:58 pm
by Captain Chill
On my F-26 the windows were plexiglass. I punched them out from the inside with a rubber hammer and cleaned off all the old silicon/caulking on the frame. (If the plexiglass is going to break while removing it, try to keep it to only two pieces that way you can put them together and still trace the old window onto the new plexiglass sheet.) Make sure to do this because the curve of the frame makes getting dimensions for these frames nearly impossible.

Went to a plastic shop in town and had them trace the old windows onto new dark grey that looks black (the closest thing they had to the tinted glass look that I wanted) plexiglass. Sanded/primed/and painted the window frame then placed the new plexiglass into the frame held in place by clear silicon. Then black caulking around the whole window. No leaks and the new "tinted" windows look fantastic.

Re: Front cabin window seals?

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 3:23 pm
by AlphaJustin
Thanks Captain Chill, I may end up just replacing the plexi so I can just force them out without worrying but mine seem to be held in and sealed with some thick black rubber seals so I dont know if I break the seals anything will be left to hold the windows.

Re: Front cabin window seals?

Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 9:24 pm
by Captain Chill
I may have had some of that rubber stuff the first go around of replacing the windows. Either way I sanded all that rubber/goo off down to the bare metal frame. After metal primer and paint, the windows will hold in place with silicone, caulking and gravity.

Re: Front cabin window seals?

Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 7:35 am
by AlphaJustin
Ah, alright great then I will be tackling that job to avoid the full window removal soon. I appreciate the guidance.

Re: Front cabin window seals?

Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 12:35 pm
by Paul
When I bought my boat, the plexiglass front windows were held in with what looked like clear exterior window & door silicone and they leaked like a sieve. The rubber seals were long gone before I owed this boat. I had to break out the windows from the frames and removed them in pieces, then cleaned and painted the frames. Installed new tinted PlexiGlass that is about an 1/8th inc thick so that it would take the curve. I used a GE Glazing sealant to hold (bond) it in place into the frames and placed brick wrapped on towels in then to hold the curve while the sealer cured. Once cured, I added a fillet of the same sealer all around the outside edge to seal it in the frame. It's been about 14 years now and still no leaks.

Also, be sure to cut the PlexiGlass a little smaller than the frame opening all around to allow for thermal expansion, about an 1/8 of an inch. Too tight of a fit will cause the window to warp on hot days and likely break the seal.

I'll see if I can find the exact sealer number that I used and post it for you.

Hope this helps

Re: Front cabin window seals?

Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 6:46 pm
by AlphaJustin
Thank you Paul I appreciate the advice and will look for your next reply.

Re: Front cabin window seals?

Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 9:39 pm
by Paul
Paul wrote:
I'll see if I can find the exact sealer number that I used and post it for you.
It was GE UltraGlaze SSG4000 Structural Glazing Sealant.

Re: Front cabin window seals?

Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 11:49 pm
by oldboat1
I don't consider myself a sucker for TV stuff (well, maybe a little), but FlexSeal really works. I've used the stuff on my F26 side windows and been leak free all summer -- seems to hold up well too.

Re: Front cabin window seals?

Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 7:28 pm
by AlphaJustin
Oldboat, I would believe it because it does work great, but I've seen videos that when left in the elements it doesn't last so it made me cautious with flex seal.

Re: Front cabin window seals?

Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 6:54 am
by The Dog House
AlphaJustin wrote:Oldboat, I would believe it because it does work great, but I've seen videos that when left in the elements it doesn't last so it made me cautious with flex seal.
I initially used flex seal but as stated it was cracked and dried out after 1 year. It's a temporary fix but not good for a permanent solution.

Re: Front cabin window seals?

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 1:14 am
by oldboat1
good info -- thanks. Will recheck it in the spring.