Annoyed by leaks through your port windows?
Buy a sheet of clear lexan, cut to the shape of the outside aluminum frames, and carefully attach to the outside of the frames using good clear packing tape.
Only meant to last through the rainy season here in California, this is a sure-fire way to keep water outside of the boat.
Photo Captions:
1) Cut pieces of Lexan for window covers.
2) Left port window with no Lexan, with Lexan on right port window.
3) View through window with Lexan window cover.
—
Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay
I'm going to share a secret with you. Not sure you can find it in this new forum but in the previous forum there were a number of articles about these leaky side port windows. People were filing the dogs and everything you could imagine. I found one article where it was suggested to use divers silicone spray on the rubber gasket. I took mine all out and cleaned them very good and sprayed each one. Reassembling into the frame again takes some patience but you can accomplish it. I did this in 2004 and every couple of year repeat. No leaks! Amazing!
Gary Bain
S/V "Gone With The Wind"
Catalina 36', Hull #: 1056, Year: 1990, Engine: M-35
Standard Rig
Moored: Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Home: Auburn, Maine
Another simple fix is the o-rings in the latches. Very easy to change, just pop out the cover, undo a screw, disassemble and put a new o-ring in place. That fixed both of ours that were leaking in any prolonged wetness, be it rain or spray.
.
Yep, I'm now an expert on both the dog o-rings and the lens seal gaskets.
I have nice, new o-rings seated in silicone grease, and freshly done lens gaskets.
After fighting leaks last year I wanted to be sure of no drips.
The diver's silicone spray is a good tip. I'll try to find some.
Thanks!
.
Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay
Interesting tip Rick.
I have also been down this road as well as many others. The expansion joints (thin black caulk line on each side) in the frames were typically my issues. Digging out the old caulk, taping the seam, refill, and trim.
In addition to the O rings...
A fellow 36 owner in our marina had used Frost King gasket/weather strip material to rebed the portlights around the inside edge of the metal trim. (instead of tape or caulk). I tried it five or so years ago and have not had a leak. Very easy to work with (10yr rubber material with a tape strip applied to the back), very clean no mess like caulk, comes as a roll with a double "hump." I split the "hump" in half to use as my seal around the interior edge. It seperates very easily down the middle. I put the cut seam (pressed together) centered at the bottom of the window.
Here is a view of the material...
[url]http://www.frostking.com/epdm-rubber-weatherseal-10-year-guarantee/[/url]
Picture is attached.
Nice part is if/when I need to redo the window it won't be near the mess as caulk or tape...in theory.
Bought at Home Depot. Not certain the impacts of salt water environments, but on the lake it has worked for me.
Jack
Solstice
Hull #1598
1996 MKII/TR/FK - M35AC - 3 Blade MaxProp
Lake Texoma
www.texomasailing.org
.
OK, this is perplexing. I still have a drip!
Now it MUST be leaking from between the fiberglass deck and the aluminum frame.
What is the best way to deal with that?
Can I just apply outside caulk, or do I have to pull out the window frames and re-seat them? How do you do that?
.
Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay
I would try resealing the joints before pulling out and rebedding the portlights.
Here is the link to the attachment (pdf) in the paid membership section...
[url]http://www.c36ia.com/node/1405[/url]
[U]Also added a link to the seal material (and picture) in my previous post.[/U]
Jack
Solstice
Hull #1598
1996 MKII/TR/FK - M35AC - 3 Blade MaxProp
Lake Texoma
www.texomasailing.org
.
Well, I taped off 1/4" around the aluminum port frames and applied clear silicone sealer around each frame.
Guess what? [B]No leaks[/B] (it just rained).
Efforts replacing O-rings and rubber gaskets were not wasted, now all is good with the ports being sealed.
.
Captain Rick Powers
(USCG OUPV)
1999 Catalina 36 mk II
Hull#1745
Std Rig, Fin Keel
Palo Alto, California
San Francisco Bay