Bavaria 33, Leaking Windows

[Jon magowan]

Here are the windows on my Bavaria 33 Cruiser (2013) that are leaking:



The water is appearing, both sides, at the very aft of the window (lowest point, I think):


The external seal on the window looks original and very tired.





My question is this. Do you think I can cure the leak by simply replacing the external seal around the edge of the window. I expect it will be a messy and laborious job but basically doable. However if it is unlikely to work I probably won’t bother. The leaks are a nuisance but I could live with them. Many thanks in advance.

 

[Rappey]

Im not sure that seal around the outside should be there in the first place, but added to try and stop leaks.
Resealing around the outside will temporarily work, maybe for quite a while, maybe not.
The hard part is finding a product that really will bond to acrylic/polycarbonate and grp/gelcoat.
Usually whatever you try will end up leaking again leaving a removal and reseal of the window the only way of fixing it.

 

[steadyeddy]

I do not know if this will help their used to be some sealer called Captain Tolleys hope this helps

 

[ashtead]

Have you consider asking on the Bavaria owners website ? Captain trolleys still exists I think but it might be an inherent design issue -I suspect your windows were fitted to many Bavs of 2013 of varying sizes hence there might be more learning out there than you suspect.

 

[Channel Sailor]

it could be the window has been fixed in place with an adhesive system. Then a rubber strip could be over the top is to a) act as a spacer to ensure the adhesive is not squashed to less than it’s designed thickness and to protect the adhesive from UV. Usually the a Matt black paint (primer) is applied around the edge of the Perspex to again protect the adhesive from UV. Though I could be wrong and maybe the rubber gasket thing is the seal and fixing. Try Bav owners web site.

By the way, that looks to be quite a long length of window. In the hot sun the expansion of the Perspex could be more than expansion of the GRP underneath, resulting in stress on the method of sealing. Also the boat might be very twisting very very slightly across that area which again stress the method of sealing. Over many years it could maybe cause the seal/glue to fail.

Sika make/made a marine product set suitable for adhering perspex(?) to grp/gelcoat.Two different primers and the adhesive. It is very good.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

As per Channel Dailor’s post.

Previous threads on similar windows and boats, suggest the sealant is breaking down. The black shading on the plastic window edge is to shield the glue from UV degradation. However, the sealant still degrades.

According to these posts, the window has to be removed and re sealed. The significant issue is that removing the window is difficult and they crack or split. Windows that have been moulded in a curve usually can’t be bought as models changed and stocks of replacement windows are low to non existent. Making a new replacement window now falls into the one off, custom space, and are very expensive.

At least with a flat window, there is a better chance to replace.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Other posts. Hope these help but more importantly, hope your solution is easier.

Jeanneau 37 Sun Odyssey Windows

Glued in windows- fit for purpose

How Safe are Windows in the Hull

 

[Sandy]

It might be worth chatting it over with Stuart at Nu Sign Marine Limited, based in Plymouth Devon I have always found him most useful.

 

[Wansworth]

Trolleys worked for me

 

[Jon magowan]

Thanks everyone for your input. Sounds a bit more of a design issue than a simple breakdown of the edge seal. I have tried Captain Tolleys to no effect unfortunately. Think I’ll probably live with it, otherwise it’s likely to turn into a time consuming, expensive project. Anyway, thanks again.

 

[dovekie]

I too think it's likely that the adhesive/sealant is breaking down. We have had the same with windows fastened by adhesive (not Bavaria). We bit the bullet and replaced three - indeed paid someone to do it. It looked difficult getting them out undamaged and very patient work re-seating them. In a couple of places on ours the sealant was too thin. My understanding is that, as channel Sailor says - the sealant needs to be both flexible, and thick enough to deform and accommodate the stress of differential thermal expansions of the window material and hull.
In case it helps with the final leak on ours, we have simply taped polytunnel polythene over the whole thing with waterproof tape, replacing each year, 7 years and counting. Completely dry, it's a window where the view doesn't matter, but it looks awful from outside!

 

[Sjp1960]

This is for the similar age Bavaria 37 cruiser which may be relevant. On that model it’s the differential expansion of two exterior windows against each other that causes a tear in the mastic joint.

2014 Bavaria C37 leaking window, maybe

Our 37 has the issue on one side only. I mean to get it fixed as per the detailed post in the thread attached, but in the meantime we put a strip of clear tape along the vertical joint which works for about a year or so.