The cabin windows (non-opening lites) on our 1981 Hunter22 leak and the plexiglas is crazed. I would like to replace them with original-looking ports but haven't been able to find them. Does anyone know a source? This sites store does not carry. I have given some thought to covering from the outside with oversized tinted Lexan sealed and screwed to the cabin exterior. Any thoughts? Thank you in advance.
H22 windows
- Thread starter LDM
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Hi LDM,
If you are still working on the lites, the overriding concern is the old sealant you have or will encounter. When I had that problem with my h23 the silicone bedding was very thick and twice as difficult to remove, mostly due to inconvenient working position. Also I had rubbery chips and slices of the stuff all over. Installing the new lexan, choose a sealant which will adhere to lexan. Sounds simple but anything short of butyl rubber may not permenantly adhere. If you have used it before..... nuff said. If not, then work very precisely and clear your work area around the lites. It's impossible to contain the stuff if your attention becomes divided. Install screws lightly after the butyl rubber has set up. With butyl, screws probably aren't structurally necessary. You'll find lots of other good advice if you search the forums. Oh, also look at a product named Lexal. I recently found it at Ace Hardware and was told it will adhere.
Question.... Why are you considering oversizing the lites? Is there a fiberglass lip around the lite that is recessed to accept the correct sized piece?
Best regards.... Rich B
If you are still working on the lites, the overriding concern is the old sealant you have or will encounter. When I had that problem with my h23 the silicone bedding was very thick and twice as difficult to remove, mostly due to inconvenient working position. Also I had rubbery chips and slices of the stuff all over. Installing the new lexan, choose a sealant which will adhere to lexan. Sounds simple but anything short of butyl rubber may not permenantly adhere. If you have used it before..... nuff said. If not, then work very precisely and clear your work area around the lites. It's impossible to contain the stuff if your attention becomes divided. Install screws lightly after the butyl rubber has set up. With butyl, screws probably aren't structurally necessary. You'll find lots of other good advice if you search the forums. Oh, also look at a product named Lexal. I recently found it at Ace Hardware and was told it will adhere.
Question.... Why are you considering oversizing the lites? Is there a fiberglass lip around the lite that is recessed to accept the correct sized piece?
Best regards.... Rich B
Thank you for responding, Rich. I have removed the starboard lite and you are right, there is lots of sealant to deal with. The lite frame has deteriorated also. Not having any luck finding replacements, I had thought of getting rid of the exterior frame and the plexi lite and covering the outside with Lexan. I had seen this done on a Columbia I used to sail. By cutting the Lexan about an inch oversize all around, there would be room for screws. I would then re-install the inside trim to finish off the interior. I was not aware that it was difficult to find a sealant that will adhere to Lexan. Not even 100% silicone? Thanks again for the input. Larry
For many of the 90's Hunters, Dow 795 is recommended as a caulking/adhesive. Do a search in the archives and you'll find several discussions about window replacement. Think carefully about using screws. The best advice I've seen is to drill the hole in the lexan a little larger than needed by the screw and do not crank it down. Lexan expands and contracts differently than fiberglass and needs room to move.
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