Leaky Window Sealing Help
I have a 1981 Islander Bahama 30, one of the main salon windows was leaking. They are made in a plastic frame with and inside and outside half that clamp the cabin side walls when they are screwed together. When they were originally installed they were sealed with black RTV or silicone between the outside frame and cabin and also gooped all around the frame. I had to use a razor knife and wire to cut through the old sealer to get the window out. When I resealed them I used 3M window weld which is used to install car windshields. I used a caulking gun to lay a thick bead around the window opening and set the outside frame in place and just started the screws on the inside frame. After the sealer had started to set I tightened down the screws leaving a seal between the frame and cabin. The first window worked without leaking for a year so I resealed the other three salon windows. Late last summer the first window started to leak a little, when I removed it this spring I found a small void but I also fund that although the sealer was bonded to the boat and the window frame in places it had sheared and the window was easily removed. I resealed that window in the same manner and it is not leaking at this time. We have had a lot more rain than usual this May and June here in Michigan and the two starboard side salon windows started to leak during a heavy rain storm. On inspection after removing the clamping screws I found the same shearing of the sealing area allowing the leak. I have decided not to use the 3M window weld anymore and am looking for suggestions from the pro’s on the best material to make a flexible watertight seal.
I have a 1981 Islander Bahama 30, one of the main salon windows was leaking. They are made in a plastic frame with and inside and outside half that clamp the cabin side walls when they are screwed together. When they were originally installed they were sealed with black RTV or silicone between the outside frame and cabin and also gooped all around the frame. I had to use a razor knife and wire to cut through the old sealer to get the window out. When I resealed them I used 3M window weld which is used to install car windshields. I used a caulking gun to lay a thick bead around the window opening and set the outside frame in place and just started the screws on the inside frame. After the sealer had started to set I tightened down the screws leaving a seal between the frame and cabin. The first window worked without leaking for a year so I resealed the other three salon windows. Late last summer the first window started to leak a little, when I removed it this spring I found a small void but I also fund that although the sealer was bonded to the boat and the window frame in places it had sheared and the window was easily removed. I resealed that window in the same manner and it is not leaking at this time. We have had a lot more rain than usual this May and June here in Michigan and the two starboard side salon windows started to leak during a heavy rain storm. On inspection after removing the clamping screws I found the same shearing of the sealing area allowing the leak. I have decided not to use the 3M window weld anymore and am looking for suggestions from the pro’s on the best material to make a flexible watertight seal.
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