window? breaking

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joe phibbs

We have a repeating problem with our 1986 Hunter 31 'window': meaning the 30" long by 10" wide port plastic piece that is like a porthole but does not open. It cracked and broke in 2001 and we replaced it with what we thought was an exact replacement piece of plastic. It broke again last winter and when we (finally) got the new part we hoped all would be well. We installed it with fewer screws (as we felt the old one might have moved too much with the coach roof twisting a little as it does under sail. We used the black LifeCaulk and gently put the screws in just enough to hold the plastic down. It cracked about 8" from the forward narrow piece but did not leak, as that triangular part covers fiberglass gelcoat, not the window portion. Now it is leaking. I put some caulk around the outside edge and the leak has abated, but the boat has ugly white stuff on the window. There is some crazing around three of the screws. What was the original equipment kind of plastic and is there a company that already has the specs for exactly what we can use (already cut to size)? joe
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Have not heard of this before.

Joe: I have not heard of this before. I would suggest that you contact Mark at Mark Plastics. He has a total replacement. (909)735-7705
 
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Patrick Neeley

Me too

I have a 1993 Hunter 30T with the same problem it sounds like. I have 4" cracks at the forward and after sides, midway up of my port and starboard fixed ports. I emailed Hunter a year or so ago to ask the same question you have, and they had not heard of the problem before. I appears my cabin top has flexed severely to have caused such cracking. Mine is not leaking, but I have decided that when it does to drill a small hole at the end of the cracks to relieve stress and fill it with clear RTV silicone rubber. That's lots less costly than replacing the ports.
 
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Mike Kenny

Lifecaulk may be causing your problem.

Lifecaulk is a polysulfide and the solvents in polysulfide sealants attack some plastics causing them to harden and split. Particularly acrylic (Plexiglas) or polycarbonate (Lexan). A product like Dow Corning 739 is ideal for bedding plastic portlights. Fair winds and dry quarters, Mike N31, Debbia II
 
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