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F32 leaking windows

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 8:33 am
by bshive95
Hoping somebody has dealt with this before. My 73 F32 has leakage coming into the cabin area, seems to concentrate near the outside corners of the front salon windows. Visual inspection of the frames doesn't show any apparent openings for water to come in, but I've heard that F32's are notorious for leaky windows.

Anybody got experience with this? Also, the side sliding windows have come out of their plastic slider channel. Those side windows look like they simply unbolt but not sure on that one either

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Re: F32 leaking windows

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 10:35 am
by Barrie
I'm not sure if your window frames are the same as My 1977 Tri Fly. I had extensive damage in the wood below the window corners.
I removed the frames (and everything else) and can tell you that even if they are sealed to the exterior of the boat. they can still let plenty of water in.
The frames are kinda a "H" shape and welded at the corners, only welded on the horizontal section of the H<. A little sealer was on the vertical sides (flanges) but this is where it was leaking.
Water hits the windows, runs into the tracks and then runs out the corners both in side the boat and outside. If the drain slot on the outside of the window frame is restricted in any way = problem x10

The best solution I could see was be sure the frames are welded on both the vertical and horizontal water tight or add sealer to the frame corners.

In this picture you can see the frames with the drain slot far right. The next frame to the left you can see the inside corner that if not sealed will leak
Image
This is the little factory weld, just on the horizontal part of the frame
Image
This is a rear window, but the damage was all the same
Image

Hope this helps

Re: F32 leaking windows

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 11:44 am
by Barrie
Unless you're referring to the windshield, the never mind......lol :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

Re: F32 leaking windows

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2016 9:56 pm
by Reel Easy
Mine were leaking at the bottom of the frame, the butyl tape was dried out. And the windshield needed re sealed. The vent window still leaks a little. Have someone run a hose on it till you see water. If its the frame you'll have to drop the headliner to loosen the nuts. Then you can clean out the old butyl and replace it. As for the side windows. Beacon marine sells plastic for them that is similar.

Re: F32 leaking windows

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 3:45 pm
by K4282
look into captains creak, its a penetrating epoxy sealer, i plan to try some on my windshield, only leave in rough seas and not at rest

Re: F32 leaking windows

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 9:51 pm
by Misty
Large sheets of visqueen taped over the window with a trojan logo drawn freehand can be a head turning look. :D

Re: F32 leaking windows

Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2016 11:52 am
by WayWeGo
K4282 wrote:look into captains creak, its a penetrating epoxy sealer, i plan to try some on my windshield, only leave in rough seas and not at rest
I think you might be referring to Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure, which looks to me to be a water based latex rubber product. Our boat came with a lot of gelcoat cracks, and I used Captain Tolley's on them as a stop gap measure, along with treating all the stanchion bases and rub rail hardware. It seems to have done a good job, but is a bit messy to use. It is quick to apply and would be a good treatment for windows until you have time to remove them and fix permanently. I think you would have to do a few coats every year with the Captain Tolley's to keep the windows from leaking if it is a seal issue. It wouldn't fix any big leaks as it works by capillary action.

Re: F32 leaking windows

Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2016 3:06 pm
by K4282
WayweGo, that is indeed the product