Changing the windows

[BlindCat]

Hi There,

Looks like I have the fever((&*^#^#()^+ I am back at fixing an old boat,
I have made new windows for the port and starbord sides.
THey are UV stable acrylic.
What type of sealant should I use on these. They have about 20 screws that secure the window to the cabin.
It's a 1988 Beneteau First 285.
Thanks
BlindCat

 

[mac1840]

window sealing recommendatin

Blindcat,

Those windows were a annual problem for me. The original installation was just a gasketed seal and lots of barrel nuts, which worked until the rain came. The last time I regasketed those windows I laid down a new seal, (soft- self adhesive like they sell for hatches) as close as possible to the winow cut-out, laid a bead of Life Seal out side of it and then carefully sealed the window in place and re-installed all new barrel nuts before it cured. Recommend you tape off the perimeter of the window as the boat seal will flow out due to the gasket/seal on the inner perimeter. That worked for at least two seasons and I sold it the third year after that.

The only other issue was the keel bolts and keeping them "rust free" in that shallow bilge. They weren't in good shape when I purchased the boat, but once I got them cleaned up and was confident in their condition, I used lanolin to cover them and keep them clean. Most pharmacies sell it, its hydrophobic so it keeps the water out but unlike paint doesn't seal the nuts in place. Most of the rust I took off was under the PO's paint job.

Mac