Association Forum - leaky windows

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

leaky windows

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Adam
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
44 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/31/2011 : 12:27:40

What can I do to stop my leaky windows other than replacing them completely?

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2011 : 13:23:24

What year C25?

Edited by - on

Happy D
Admiral

Members Avatar

921 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2011 : 15:40:06

There is a lot of information on this forum about leaking windows. Rebuilding them seems to return marginal results. Some people rebuild them and they still leak. I am just replacing mine with plexiglass. There are several adhesives that can be used to seal the acrylic to fiberglass. Silicone should be avoided.
The problem with silicone is that it will eventually loose it's seal and then nothing ...absolutely nothing will ever stick to it again. Sikaflex makes an adhesive made just for this purpose.
Sikaflex 295 or something like that.

Edited by - Happy D on 01/31/2011 15:40:45

Adam
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
44 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2011 : 16:55:11

its at 84 c25

Edited by - on

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2011 : 19:34:01

We redid the windows...now we tarp over the cabin when tied up...

Edited by - jerlim on 02/01/2011 05:37:20

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2011 : 20:14:12

I keep a cover on our boat also, cuts down on the water intrusion, and keeps the deck cleaner.

I could also put this cover over the boom and secure the sides to the lifelines, say while at anchor.
This was a Malibu powerboat cover I bought ebay and had modified for the C25.

Edited by - dmpilc on 01/31/2011 20:27:25

pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

2402 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2011 : 20:14:28

I always tarp regardless, any boat will leak in the right storm. I will install new windows in my boat this spring and will continue to tarp. Saves wood, keeps out insects, keeps bird crap off your cabin top, and keeps the fiberglass from oxidizing too. I use nice boom tents as tarps.

Edited by - on

Justincase
1st Mate

Members Avatar

Canada
49 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2011 : 20:15:28

HappyD do you have any pics, as I am seriously considering this mod myself. Are you planning to use just the adhesive to hold them on, or through bolting? How are you planning to finish the inside? I
JC

Edited by - on

WesAllen
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
222 Posts

Response Posted - 01/31/2011 : 21:23:56

I had the kit from CD for my windows (1982) but the seal that they send with it will not work with the original glass. I took my pieces to a local glass shop and they order the proper seal. Haven't had a leak since (a year and a half ago).

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 02/01/2011 : 08:32:11

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=20892

Edited by - on

Happy D
Admiral

Members Avatar

921 Posts

Response Posted - 02/01/2011 : 16:33:22

justincase,
you can see how I redid the interior here;

I haven't figured out how I'm going to attach the plexiglass, but I'm thinking through bolting with barrel nuts on the inside.

http://members.csinet.net/dhapp/portlights/portlights.html

Edited by - on

jonfew346
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
33 Posts

Response Posted - 02/04/2011 : 06:17:28

You have done a great job with that recoring. It is really clean. I have heard people say that plexiglass will not work on the older boats because the surface around the opening has a slight curve. Have you laid a straight edge over you window openings to check for any type of slope? Because of the lack of success, I think this is the scariest project for most C25 guys to do. I have heard that the kit from CD works and others say to toss the gaskets and just use different types of caulk.

Edited by - on

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 02/04/2011 : 06:31:08

Question for Happy D.
What is the brand and model # of the opening ports you used to replace the old ones in the head area?

Edited by - on

mrapkins
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
124 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2011 : 07:46:46

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Adam
 What can I do to stop my leaky windows other than replacing them completely?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You cannot. The window design is very poor. You can re-bed them and they won't leak for a year or two, but inevitably, they will leak again.

Here's a complete description of what I did to replace them.

http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21699

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

USA
5851 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2011 : 08:37:04

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Happy D
 justincase,
you can see how I redid the interior here;

I haven't figured out how I'm going to attach the plexiglass, but I'm thinking through bolting with barrel nuts on the inside.

http://members.csinet.net/dhapp/portlights/portlights.html
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The portlights on my C&C 35 were originally installed without screws. They were "glued" into the openings with a strongly adhesive type of caulk that is made specifically for that purpose. I plan to replace the portlights this year, and will not screw them in place. When you drill holes through plexiglass or similar materials, you create a very high risk that a crack will form at the hole and run. Plexi and other materials expand and contract, and, if you screw them too firmly in place, or don't allow them enough space to expand and contract, they'll break. I don't know the name and brand of the caulk that is used for the purpose, but I have seen it in a chandlery and know it's out there. (I found it at Zahneiser's ship's store, in Solomons Island, MD.)

If your portlights are curved, the adhesive caulk will hold them in just fine after it's cured, but you have to figure out a way to hold them firmly in place until it cures. A simple wood device will do the trick.

Edited by - Steve Milby on 02/05/2011 08:40:22

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4275 Posts

Response Posted - 02/05/2011 : 13:02:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dmpilc
...This was a Malibu powerboat cover I bought ebay and had modified for the C25.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

David - Do you remember the make and model # of your cover?

Edited by - on

Happy D
Admiral

Members Avatar

921 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2011 : 06:19:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">The portlights on my C&C 35 were originally installed without screws. They were "glued" into the openings with a strongly adhesive type of caulk that is made specifically for that purpose. I plan to replace the portlights this year, and will not screw them in place. When you drill holes through plexiglass or similar materials, you create a very high risk that a crack will form at the hole and run<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You are absolutely correct Steve, but the C&C had a smaller window and a counter-bore in the cabin side for the plexi to sit in. With our C25's the plex is surface mounted, on the older models it is anyway. There will be more movement between the plexi and the fiberglass. Holes that are melted through or polished will reduce the stress risers but it still might crack. I believe the widows Cruising Concepts sells have screws holes in them but I'm not positive.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">[Question for Happy D.
What is the brand and model # of the opening ports you used to replace the old ones in the head area?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I bought Bomar 2000 series opening ports with screens. I bought the N2515 ports. They required the opening be cut a little larger. That gave me a full overlap of the flange on the outside and a nice tight fit. I didn't want no stinking leaks! I bought mine from Defender. [url="http://www.pompanette.com/pompweb.nsf/731d6514ff5a8481852567be000745b2/0b247704d0ba2608852567c200617033?OpenDocument"]Bomar Opening Ports[/url]

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I have heard people say that plexiglass will not work on the older boats because the surface around the opening has a slight curve. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The curve is slight and the Plexi will bend just fine. I do however have some spare oven heating elements and I thought of bending the plexi to match the curve but I don't think it is warranted.

The coach sides where the opening ports site in the head area should be flat. If your coach sides are not flat and are delaminated from water, build a clamp and when you repair the core, clamp the wall so it is flat and 5/8" thick. The opening ports will fit so nice...

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.