2005 Antares 760 - wheelhouse sliding window stuck shut

[Pleinmont]

Starboard side sliding helm window only opens about 2inches then gets sticks fast, can just about slide it shut again.
Port side is fine.

It's been like this for a few years since I bought it.
Assumed I would be able to get it working with a bit of a clean and lube but never got it to open properly despite pressure washing, cleaning runners, silicone spray, WD40 etc.
Really frustrating.
Maybe the runners are misaligned or the roof sits heavier on this side and jams it.
Would love to get it sorted.

Any ideas or know if you can remove and reseat those types of window?
Thanks

 

[Plum]

Starboard side sliding helm window only opens about 2inches then gets sticks fast, can just about slide it shut again.
Port side is fine.

It's been like this for a few years since I bought it.
Assumed I would be able to get it working with a bit of a clean and lube but never got it to open properly despite pressure washing, cleaning runners, silicone spray, WD40 etc.
Really frustrating.
Maybe the runners are misaligned or the roof sits heavier on this side and jams it.
Would love to get it sorted.

Any ideas or know if you can remove and reseat those types of window?
Thanks

Hi, my sliding windows (2000 vintage!) were very stiff, although they would open more than yours and, like you, tried cleaning and lubricants without success. I discovered there was enough clearance in the top runner to lift the acrylic window vertically by 2 or 3 mm. I managed to slide a long length of polypropylene plastic 1mm thick and 10mm wide into the lower runner underneath the glass. Was not easy. The result was that the glass now slides on the plastic strip and not on the rubber moulding and it opens so much easier.

I do not know how to remove them but expect once you pull out the top rubber moulding the glass can be lifted enough to come sideways out of the bottom runner. If there is not enough clearance for that, once the top rubber moulding is out, or partly out, you should see some self tapping screws that screw into the roof structure above to release the top aluminium runner.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Pleinmont]

Many thanks Plum, I'll check out the clearance next time I'm down there.
Fingers crossed my windows are similarly put together.
Cheers!

 

[Seastoke]

Many thanks Plum, I'll check out the clearance next time I'm down there.
Fingers crossed my windows are similarly put together.
Cheers!

Have you measured the hieght of the window against the other and try a strait edge along the profiles.

 

[seasick]

same problem with my 760. After washing gullies as best I could my son and I opened window jointly one person on the inside of the boat, the other outside . The double two -handed pull worked and we opened the window and cleaned the gullies and allowed to dry with window opened ,Then used fine Graphite powder in a puffer bottle to lubricate the bottom gully. This worked OK for a while and then started to stick again. Repeated process as required , but the window did not "freeze" again . The graphite worked much better than wet sprays. Graphite from ebay . Not an ideal solution , but cheap.

 

[Pleinmont]

Have you measured the hieght of the window against the other and try a strait edge along the profiles.

I'll have a look at that, thanks

 

[Pleinmont]

same problem with my 760. After washing gullies as best I could my son and I opened window jointly one person on the inside of the boat, the other outside . The double two -handed pull worked and we opened the window and cleaned the gullies and allowed to dry with window opened ,Then used fine Graphite powder in a puffer bottle to lubricate the bottom gully. This worked OK for a while and then started to stick again. Repeated process as required , but the window did not "freeze" again . The graphite worked much better than wet sprays. Graphite from ebay . Not an ideal solution , but cheap.

Interesting and reassuring to know I'm not the only 760 owner with this problem.
Thanks for the tips, will try a bit harder to slide it open next time. I was worried it would stick open or crack so haven't really gone too much to town on it yet. Maybe a wooden block tapped with a rubber mallet on the vertical side would help nudge it open (pulling on the plastic handle is bound to snap it off).
Will see if I can get some graphite powder or slide the slippery plastic strip underneath like Plum said.

Would be great to get it working before summer as it gets very warm in the wheelhouse with only one window plus I can never speak to people on the bow!
Thanks!

 

[Jamie Dundee]

Interesting and reassuring to know I'm not the only 760 owner with this problem.
Thanks for the tips, will try a bit harder to slide it open next time. I was worried it would stick open or crack so haven't really gone too much to town on it yet. Maybe a wooden block tapped with a rubber mallet on the vertical side would help nudge it open (pulling on the plastic handle is bound to snap it off).
Will see if I can get some graphite powder or slide the slippery plastic strip underneath like Plum said.

Would be great to get it working before summer as it gets very warm in the wheelhouse with only one window plus I can never speak to people on the bow!
Thanks!

My windows were extremely stiff when I bought the boat, although not stuck solid. They’re fine now, they just need opening regularly. I invariably have the helm window open when I’m out, I have read (although not tried) washing up liquid in the felt runners helps keep them smooth, although maybe a bit frothy when it rains....

 

[Seastoke]

My windows were extremely stiff when I bought the boat, although not stuck solid. They’re fine now, they just need opening regularly. I invariably have the helm window open when I’m out, I have read (although not tried) washing up liquid in the felt runners helps keep them smooth, although maybe a bit frothy when it rains....

it dries hard so no good

 

[Pleinmont]

My windows were extremely stiff when I bought the boat, although not stuck solid. They’re fine now, they just need opening regularly. I invariably have the helm window open when I’m out, I have read (although not tried) washing up liquid in the felt runners helps keep them smooth, although maybe a bit frothy when it rains....

Cheers Jamie, suspect lack of regular use was part of the problem years ago and the window gradually seized up.
The boat (and the windows) had only done 350hrs from 2005 to May 2017 when we bought it (we've nearly doubled that since owning it though! )

 

[Pleinmont]

it dries hard so no good

Thanks! I had wondered about using fairy liquid but good to know ??

 

[Pleinmont]

Hi, my sliding windows (2000 vintage!) were very stiff, although they would open more than yours and, like you, tried cleaning and lubricants without success. I discovered there was enough clearance in the top runner to lift the acrylic window vertically by 2 or 3 mm. I managed to slide a long length of polypropylene plastic 1mm thick and 10mm wide into the lower runner underneath the glass. Was not easy. The result was that the glass now slides on the plastic strip and not on the rubber moulding and it opens so much easier.

I do not know how to remove them but expect once you pull out the top rubber moulding the glass can be lifted enough to come sideways out of the bottom runner. If there is not enough clearance for that, once the top rubber moulding is out, or partly out, you should see some self tapping screws that screw into the roof structure above to release the top aluminium runner.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

Sorry, I forgot to ask the other day, where did you get the 1mm polypropylene plastic from - was it this kind of stuff?

https://www.cutplasticsheeting.co.uk/product/natural-polypropylene/

 

[Bouba]

What I also found was that at the bottom of the window pane, where water stands, there can be a build up of calcium. Cillit Bang

 

[Plum]

Sorry, I forgot to ask the other day, where did you get the 1mm polypropylene plastic from - was it this kind of stuff?

Natural Polypropylene Sheet Cut To Your Dimensions - Cut Plastic Sheeting

Can't remember! It was something I already had in the workshop. PVC plastic would also be good, cut from something like this MK White Trunking length | DIY at B&Q

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Pleinmont]

Thanks both, will have a look around

 

[Lisa&Paul]

Hi , We have a simi9lar problem on our 2010 Antares 30 fly , port side glides easily but starboard is a workout at the gym , when fully open another workout to close , from outside easier . Was wondering after using white grease on the rubbers ( no improvement ) is it possible to replace the bottom rubbers and would Beneteau dealers be only avenue for this ? Ours was a problem caused by very little usage by previous owners ....

 

[Plum]

Hi , We have a simi9lar problem on our 2010 Antares 30 fly , port side glides easily but starboard is a workout at the gym , when fully open another workout to close , from outside easier . Was wondering after using white grease on the rubbers ( no improvement ) is it possible to replace the bottom rubbers and would Beneteau dealers be only avenue for this ? Ours was a problem caused by very little usage by previous owners ....

I have solved my problem (see post 2) but if you need new seals you could send the dimensions to these people
Door Seals, Rubber Seals, Rubber Extrusions, Window Rubbers UK | Seals Direct

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Pleinmont]

Had some triumphant but minor success at the weekend...
After a lot of swearing, skinned knuckles, a toothbrush, handsoap, a hose pipe and half a tin of WD40 I managed to get the window to slide completely open...
It happened moments after my wife suggested I stop breaking it and pay someone to do it was just the encouragement I needed!

Weirdly it was intermittently very stuck then quite easy at the end of it's track then started sticking again after 10mins but it's definitely moveable and the runners are not binding. Suspect it was 50% caked dirt and 50% lack of use.
I have a feeling it will be sticky again the next time I try it but will repeat the toothbrush cleaning and flushing with lots of water. Reckon it will be ok long term.

Not managed to find graphite spray yet but got some silicon lube that dries with no residue so will try that next time after I wash out the WD40.

Thanks for the advice so far.

 

[Pleinmont]

Forgot to say I also used a new clean putty knife slid down between the glass and runners (inside and out top and bottom) to gently separate the glass laterally from the grimy runners and also break up and drag out any dirt i could reach before flushing.
I don't think i would have got the window moving without doing this as the dirt seems to grip the glass.

 

[Bouba]

Had some triumphant but minor success at the weekend...
After a lot of swearing, skinned knuckles, a toothbrush, handsoap, a hose pipe and half a tin of WD40 I managed to get the window to slide completely open...
It happened moments after my wife suggested I stop breaking it and pay someone to do it was just the encouragement I needed!

Weirdly it was intermittently very stuck then quite easy at the end of it's track then started sticking again after 10mins but it's definitely moveable and the runners are not binding. Suspect it was 50% caked dirt and 50% lack of use.
I have a feeling it will be sticky again the next time I try it but will repeat the toothbrush cleaning and flushing with lots of water. Reckon it will be ok long term.

Not managed to find graphite spray yet but got some silicon lube that dries with no residue so will try that next time after I wash out the WD40.

Thanks for the advice so far.

Well done. Now, if you take the effort you put into that one piece of glass and extrapolate that over the whole boat, then it will come out to how much effort it takes to enjoy our hobby?????