Replacing fixed Window on H29.5

[Dave602]

Has anyone had the joy of replacing the large fixed window that is located on the sloped part of the deck in front of the mast? Mine is badly hazed and does leak sometimes It has screws holding it down that tend to work loose. The seal is also poor, we did a temporary fix last year after we bought the boat. The Previous Owner had purchased a new replacement window but never tried to install it. I'm not afraid of tackling this kind of job but would like some lessons learned from someone who has done it before. If not, looks like I might be the Guinea Pig.

 

[Steve Dion]

If you have new acrylic that is a direct replacment, I would suggest that you remove the old ones and bed new ones with DOW795. There should NOT be any screws holding them in place (you may want to check with other sources about this).

There were probably screw holes in the acrylic originally, but that was only to hold the pieces in place until the DOW795 cured.

You must clean the bedding surface to get it as clean as possible to get a good seal on the new windows.

 

[Dave602]

I believe it is a replacement. It may need the screws as the deck is bowed there and the acrylic is flat.

 

[TerryGufshoz]

Dave,
The factory places screws to hold the windows in place until the bedding material sets. Then remove the screws and fill the holes with more of the bedding sealant. If you leave the screws in place, the normal torquing of the boat will eventually crack the acrylic. There are several threads existing on this site to help guide you.

 

[healeyman]

I have same hunter with what appears to be original window with screws... no cracking ... I would guess that the screws were placed at manufacture. I too am wanted to reseal this window, and would be interested if anyone has completed this reseal. Thanks, Dave

 

[Franky boy]

I have replaced one of the side windows on my 29.5 last summer. In order to hold the window in place I drilled and installed screws. I left the screws on and when I went back to check on the boat last week (after a 5 month winter storage) found the window had cracked in several places.
I read several posts and found out that Lexan and Plexiglass has a very high thermal expansion coeficient. It is fine to use screws to hold the window in place as long as you take them off after the sealant is hardenned. You can leave the screws on but if you do so make sure to drill the holes at least a quarter inch bigger than the diameter of the screw. This will allow for the window expansion and avoid cracking.
I will be replacing the cracked window in May. Good luck with your repalcement.

Francois

 

[Steve Dion]

Dave: Those screw holes are there to hold the acrylic in place as the DOW795 cures. They should be removed after a few days (see instructions on product). and the holes would be refilled with 795.

You may want to email customer support at Hunter and ask them too.

 

[Steve Dion]

Where are you guys getting your new acrylic? Is it from Hunters supplier?

 

[Dave602]

Mine came with the boat from the previous owner. Not sure where they got it from. It looks like an identical piece

 

[Franky boy]

Yes directly from Hunter. I called the ordering office and they still have the templates to cut the acylic windows.

 

[rlrmystic]

Has anyone replaced their portlights? The current dimensions do not seem to match well with the Bomar models. My 295 is from 1995

 

[rlrmystic]

Would you have a email and or phone number Frank?

 

[robertsapp]

So about those screws. The front "windshield" on our boat is the original. It doesn't leak and we've learned to live with the crazing that resulted from sixteen years of Florida sun exposure, so there's no plan to replace it in the immediate future. It does have about eight screws around the perimeter though that I'm sure were put there by the factory. Nothing has ever cracked. Am I to understand that Hunter was supposed to have removed them? I am planning on removing them and then reinstalling them with button fasteners on them so that I can snap down a sun shade to the window to cut down on the interior heat. I'd rather do that then drill holes in the surrounding deck.

 

[Dave602]

My screws work loose from time time and the glass has separated from the seal. I don't think the acrylic was formed to the curve but laid flat and pulled down by the screws.

 

[Franky boy]

My email is galeo.dore@gmail.com