73 f32 windshield replacement

drbbqking · Post by **drbbqking** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:59 pm

ok i'm thinking that you take out the screws on the inside and work the glass and alu. frame out from the outside ?????

Commissionpoint · Post by **Commissionpoint** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 3:23 pm

I have this question as well. If you don't get it solved, ask me in a month and I will let you know how I dealt with it.

drbbqking · Post by **drbbqking** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 3:41 pm

best i can tell is that the screws hold the outer alu. trim on i think that it and the glass are bedded that and corrosion and time are holding tight don't want to force anything but would like to get it apart to replace the glass

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:57 pm

A little search can go a long way... this question has come up a few times before.

viewtopic.php?t=1042&highlight=window

Here is what things look like in cross section (one of these two variations).

: e746aa2c.png (26.68 KiB) Viewed 3990 times

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 6:59 pm

I'll be removing the front starboard windshield on our F-32 in the next week or so, I'll take progess photos as I remove the components,
I'll include the good the bad and the ugly....

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:36 pm

my trim wouldnt even come off till i removed outer screws, debating weather to close mine in or not now. I dont like the look, but fishing in tough seas it may be a must. helm windsheild frames and side windows are REAL fun!!!

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 7:12 am

Maniac,

Thanks for the drawing - that is very helpful.

I don't need to do mine yet, but the time will come.

katprice · Post by **katprice** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:26 am

Looking forward to the photos. Looks like our glass has to be replaced as well. Windows are all hazy. Tried a bunch of different things, nothing seemed to clear them up.

drbbqking · Post by **drbbqking** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:55 pm

thinking if you apply heat from a small torch (not holding it for to long in one spot just fanning) to soften up the old bedding as u apply some slight prying

captainmaniac · Post by **captainmaniac** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 4:00 pm

The guy I had do my windshield was an old wooden boat builder/restorer. He talked to a couple of glass shops about the configuration and bought some tool from them (cost him about $50) to help cut or slice the sealant.

DAVIDLOFLAND · Post by **DAVIDLOFLAND** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 9:58 am

Great diagram. My F-32 windshileds have leaked forever. I had attempted to stem the flow by sealing from the outside (bead around the trim), but it looked bad. So, in the course of painting the boat, I removed the outer trim, breaking two windshileds in the process, bending up the trim (a machine shop straightend them), then reinstalled new glass and freshly painted trim. I reinstalled every thing and only used soft, gummy strip sealant in the center channel, and yep, they still leak.

Now, I need to remove the screws from the inside, pop the trim pieces off (which should be doable without any prior adhesive type sealant used), and reseal with something better than strip caulk.

Question is, wouldn't sealant in the center channnel (where the screws come through) suffice, as the glass is already bonded to the lip of the aluminum frame, making the screw holes the only point of entry for water?

Does anyone know how the windshields were sealed from the factory?

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 11:30 am

DAVIDLOFLAND wrote:Question is, wouldn't sealant in the center channnel (where the screws come through) suffice, as the glass is already bonded to the lip of the aluminum frame, making the screw holes the only point of entry for water?
Does anyone know how the windshields were sealed from the factory?

Are you sure that water is coming in from around the glass or the screw holes? On my boat the screws are pan head so they seat well.
Any chance that your water is coming between the window frame and top of fibreglass topside? My sealant there has needed some help as water was coming in there... two places, dripping down the window frame hold down bolts to above galley head liner and also through to the inside ahead of the lower station. I used silicone sealer to seal the joint below window frame from outside.

DAVIDLOFLAND · Post by **DAVIDLOFLAND** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:12 pm

It's the screw holes, for sure.

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:37 pm

My 1974 F32 doesn't leak at all around the windshield.

Is there a design difference after 74/75/76?

I know there is a window that open in the middle that was added some year, that a) leaks sometimes and b) I really wish I had for the airflow.

DAVIDLOFLAND · Post by **DAVIDLOFLAND** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 12:49 pm

Mine's a '77. It does have the opening lower window, which is indeed great to have. That window seals nicely, with new weatherstrip. It's the screwholes on the main windshields that are letting in the water.