LEAKAGE SURVEY.

[rotrax]

Island Packet are using bonded hull portlights on their new boats.
The regulars on the iphomeport are already condeming the move, saying American Hunters and Benetau yachts so equipped leak like sieves.
Is this, in fact so?
Plenty of contemporary yachts in our club, never seen or heard of these bonded in portlights leaking.
Any real life experience? Is it so in use?
Or is it the IP luddites fearing change.?

 

[prv]

I don't have any personal experience, but I'd expect them to be easier to make watertight than traditional fittings with separate frames and lots of drilled holes and fastenings.

Do any of them have leaks around their car windscreens?

Pete

 

[jwilson]

I have had no leaks from around bonded in hull portlights on my 15 year old Jeanneau, but very definite leaking on the poorly bonded in front windscreen on my much newer Volvo car. Apparently common on that aged and model car - Volvo got the sealing wrong according to National Windscreens who put in a new screen after a crack appeared in the glass. New screen doesn't leak.

I must confess to some trepidation if I ever have to replace any of the bonded in ports on my Jeanneau. The old frames/ bolts/etc contruction looks easier to fix.

 

[asteven221]

I have not heard of any issues with bonded hull portlights leaking. I had no leaks on my Beneteau 423.

I was always a bit more concerned about how they would be replaced when they craze, or become badly scratched. When I look at some of the new mobos with their massive irregular shaped hull portlights (or Windows?) I do wonder what they they are going to be like in a few years. Imagine the cost to replace these!

 

[Tranona]

Varies from boat to boat. Hanse had lots of problems when they first introduced bonded windows. Bavaria had problems with one model (since cured). There are essentially 2 different types of bonded windows. The most common is where a single window is bonded to the hull or deck, often in a recess. These do not seem to be a problem. The second and this is the type used on the Bavaria 37 that gave trouble is where there is one strip bonded over an area that has more than one opening and also cover plain areas. I have this on my 33, and the opening portlights are set one of the open areas. After 5 years no problems, nor in any of the portlights bonded into the hull. The 37 that did have problems had a large area of GRP between openings and this was where the sealant failed. Absolute pig to repair but I understand a change in production method cured the problem. Judging by posts on the bavaria yacht forum including an extensive survey of owners there are far more problems with leaks from the conventional Lewmar, Gebo and Rutgerson hatches/portlights that have been used over the years. However the leaks are usually in the unit itself rather than the hatch/portlight to hull joint. In addition there are many more of that type in use and they are getting on in years.

Bonding is a well established technology and boat builders have been late adopters. Properly designed and executed (as most are) there should not be problems. Perhaps your objectors on the IP forum are the same people who behave like that on this forum!

 

[doug748]

I have not heard of any issues with bonded hull portlights leaking. I had no leaks on my Beneteau 423.

I was always a bit more concerned about how they would be replaced when they craze, or become badly scratched. When I look at some of the new mobos with their massive irregular shaped hull portlights (or Windows?) I do wonder what they they are going to be like in a few years. Imagine the cost to replace these!

View attachment 108448

A reader in the power section had problems, I think with an Italian boat. I forget the details, an older boat perhaps and no help from the builder.
I recall he is a long term contributor so someone will remember.

.

 

[Rappey]

A big factor would be whether it's glass or acrylic
The correct bonding on glass is virtually impossible to get off and glass like car windscreens adds a lot of structural strength.
Fish tanks are held together with nothing more than silicon sealant yet take a lot of pressure
Acrylic on the other hand is not so easy to get adhesives to bond.

 

[James_Calvert]

A reader in the power section had problems, I think with an Italian boat. I forget the details, an older boat perhaps and no help from the builder.
I recall he is a long term contributor so someone will remember.

.

Cracked hull windows. Any advice?

This is the one.

 

[Scotsailor]

I have had problems with a bonded window leaking on my Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32.2 … i had to have the window replaced to fix the problem properly. And it wasn’t inexpensive

 

[Daydream believer]

Perhaps they are testing the system, ready for bonding the hull grid, like lots of other successful boat manufacturers

 

[rotrax]

I have had problems with a bonded window leaking on my Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32.2 … i had to have the window replaced to fix the problem properly. And it wasn’t inexpensive

Thamks for the reply.

The bonded portlights in question are those in the topsides of the hull, not the coachroof.

Sorry about your problem, hope it is OK now.