Leaking Windows

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Mark Matthias

I need to replace some of the gaskets in some of my side windows on my 1995 Hunter 29.5. I was told Beckson Marine was a source but after several phone calls about the way to measure the window for the replacement gasket I am not sure they make the same windows that are in my boat. If anyone knows of another supplier I would appreciate the info. I also have a pesky hatch leak problem. The hatch over the dinette has developed a intermittent leak. Under certain conditions of heavy driving rain the hatch will leak from the hinge seam and then down through the seam of the hatch frame. I have tried to force some silicone sealer into these seams with no success. If anyone has experience with this type of leak I would appreciate the help.
 
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Monty Miller

Not hard to be confused...

...because Hunter used two suppliers for the opening ports. The four vertical 4"x10" ports are by Beckson and the two (aprox?) 7"x14" are by Gray. You can get the gaskets on this site's chandlery. The four verical 4"x10" ports are the dumbest thing Hunter ever did. This style of portlights is designed to be mounted horizontally for drainage. Mounted vertically, mine always leaked. I just replaced them with Beckson fixed ports. They were the same size and the glass is now on the outside. They won't leak anymore. They cost about $60 each and can be purchased on this site with a special order. The Gray portlight parts were unavailble for a few years. They recently start making them again. I also think that they are a very poor design so I replaced them with Lewmar opening ports. Had to cut the openings about 1" or so larger in both dimensions to get them to fit. They are GREAT portlights compared to the Gray's. Cost more but I don't think I'll ever have to worry about parts availabilty. The hatches are Lewmar's and replacement gaskets should be available on this site as well. It sounds like you need to remove the hatch and replace the sealant. Go to the Lewmar site for directions. Two years ago I relaced the fixed windows. The plexiglas windows are available at a resonable cost directly from Hunter Marine and are cut using the original templates. Just make sure you use Dow Chemical 795 sealant and not regular silicone to install them . I hope this helps.
 

Rick

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Oct 5, 2004
1,098
Hunter 420 Passage San Diego
could be the sealer material is shot

Had the same problem on several of my windows (portlights) on my '95 H-29.5. Turned out that the sealer material, a strip of neoprene material that fits into the hatch itself, had gotten aged and dried out. Lost its ability to provide a snug watertight seal. The stuff comes in strips by the foot and slips into hatch like a lengthy gaket material. But first you'll have to remove the old material with a knife or some other sharp instrument. Easy but kind of messy as it may have been glued in at the factory. You can purhcase from the manufacturers (Beckson, etc.) .. I actually found some for sale on e-Bay. Rick
 
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Mark Matthias

Thanks Monty!

Your information will be a great help to me. One of the first window leaking projects I tackled this summer was prying up the front facing panoramic window and resetting with DOW 795. It must have leaked in five different locations. The previous owner had it "professionally" done by an automotive shop just last year.
 
Jun 5, 2004
47
Hunter 29.5 Aylmer, PQ near Ottawa
leaky side windows

Hi, I had the same problem with those 2 small black portlight windows and the larger one too. I ordered new lens for the two larger 7 x 14 Gray windows and seal or gasket for all. Rick is right, much to my surprisere I receided a long strip of black foamy ruberry 3/8in wide t-shaped seal. Not the pre form gasket type I was expecting... Since I never open the small PYI vertical portlights anyways, changed the seal and put some black marine silicone on it and sealed them shut for good.... They do not leak any more trust me !!! After removing the old seal from the larger Gray ports with a flat screw driver and cleaned the groove with acetone, I install the new seal by pulling the protective backing strip off the pre- glued seal. I started the new seal at the center top of the window to have the two ends meet at the top not the bottom where the water accumulated. I will take some pictures of the seal for you this week end. I have a few feet left as spare. I got it from Pompanette in Florida. It doesn't leak anymore in the rain nor when I wash the boat with the hoze. Mario
 
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BobS

Beckson 4x10 gasket

Mark, I replaced the gaskets for the four 4x10 portlights in my 1994 29.5 a year and a half ago. You can order them directly from Beckson (product no. GK-410). They fit perfectly, but still leak a little every now and then. I'm thinking of doing like Monty and replacing them with fixed ports.
 
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Karen

Easy solution

I recently replaced the gaskets on my hunter with the Gray retro gasket from Bomar (which now distributes and handles the Gray line) and it worked fantastic. Very easy to do and took about 10 minutes per port but stopped the aweful leaking from the poorly designed ports. If you call the 800 line for the chandlery on this site, I bet they will order the gasket material for you or direct you to Pompanette, where I got mine from. It it sold by the foot and I used 12ft to do four 4 X 10 ports (Gives you a bit extra for mistakes). Good luck! Karen
 
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Neil Hodgson

Pompanette LLC are the ones....

when you need anything like this, go to these guys : Pompnette LLC. Very professional, very good, very reasonable, extremely fast delivery. you will not be disappointed.
 
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