Replacing cabin side window /gunwhale coring on F-26
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 10:41 am
The side windows in the cabin of my F26 were loose and leaking water. Some of the mounting screws came loose from the core material being rotted.
I'm looking to have to recore the area of the side windows to be able to properly mount back tightly. I did a search on the site but did not find any detailed info from somebody that may have done this before.
The interior was pretty nasty when I bought the boat, so in anticipation of doing this repair I pulled out the headliner and all the vinyl/cloth that was stapled around the sides of the cabin. In the process, I found the leaks from the windows rotted out some of the trim wood inside the cabin and some spots in th core of the gunwhales. I also have soft spots in the roof corners from the front rail screws being loose and leaking.
The boat is getting hauled out next Friday for the winter, and I'm hoping to be able to be able to repair the fiberglass and coring for the windows, corners of the roof, and gunwhales during the offseason (at least when the outside temps are moderate). I can refinish the interior next summer as I have time when the boat is in the water.
The roof spots that are soft are about 8" x 8" in area and are readily accesible. Repairing those areas appears pretty straightforward to me right now.
The window framing doesn't seem like it will be too bad to get at, but the spots on the gunwhales have me concerned.
This will be my first time working with fiberglass, so I guess I will have to do some "learning on the job".
I'm sure others have had to do similar repairs. Any pointers? Thanks!
I'm looking to have to recore the area of the side windows to be able to properly mount back tightly. I did a search on the site but did not find any detailed info from somebody that may have done this before.
The interior was pretty nasty when I bought the boat, so in anticipation of doing this repair I pulled out the headliner and all the vinyl/cloth that was stapled around the sides of the cabin. In the process, I found the leaks from the windows rotted out some of the trim wood inside the cabin and some spots in th core of the gunwhales. I also have soft spots in the roof corners from the front rail screws being loose and leaking.
The boat is getting hauled out next Friday for the winter, and I'm hoping to be able to be able to repair the fiberglass and coring for the windows, corners of the roof, and gunwhales during the offseason (at least when the outside temps are moderate). I can refinish the interior next summer as I have time when the boat is in the water.
The roof spots that are soft are about 8" x 8" in area and are readily accesible. Repairing those areas appears pretty straightforward to me right now.
The window framing doesn't seem like it will be too bad to get at, but the spots on the gunwhales have me concerned.
This will be my first time working with fiberglass, so I guess I will have to do some "learning on the job".
I'm sure others have had to do similar repairs. Any pointers? Thanks!