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mid cabin - fixed skylights over head and dinette

Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:03 pm
by BobCT
Both of mine have some cracking and one leaks. Both have been caulked before and not very well.

What have you guys done with these? I was thinking that funtional/opening hatches like the one over the v-berth might be nice, but don't know if any are available in the same shape.

If not, I suppose I can get new plexi cut and remount the new pieces. It seems to me like the ones I have seen are undersized - meaning a wide caulk joint. I don't know if that's by design..... maybe I shouldn't re-engineer what is already there.

Any ideas welcome, I need to do something. Also, on the same subject my v-berth hatch needs a new seal. Any recommendations?

Bob

Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:53 pm
by vito tursi
I had the same problem and replaced the skylights with new plexiglass using the old ones as a template and used 100% silicon to seal them in and weighted them with buckets of water to set them and then sealed them inside and out , I used no screws. I did this 6 months ago and they have held up, no leaks.

how much of a gap do you have?

Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 5:13 am
by BobCT
I have a good 1/2" which seems about twice what it should be. I'm sure there's some expansion and contraction between the boat and plexi. It would be nice to only have a thin bead of caulk.

Bob