Leaking Cabin Window

[chrisswift18]

Despite re-sealing a cabin window last season I still have a minor leak. The window is made from plastic and is shaped and curved to fit the boat. It is frameless and is attached by screwing directly to the cabin deck on a bed of sikaflex sealant.

The reason for the leak is because some of the screw holes in the cabin deck have become enlarged and hence the screws don't ever fully tighten and hence do not apply enough pressure to bed the window against the sealant.

So my options as I see it are:-

1. Use larger screws. (May need to carefully enlarge the holes in the window)
2. Drill the holes into the cabin so I can use nuts and bolts (not very cosmetically attractive)
3. Fill the holes with some sort of filler that can then be re-drilled with a small pilot hole and is capable of holding the screws tightly.

My preferences would be for option 3, however I am not sure what filler to use.

Does anyone have any recommendations for suitable fillers or other options?

Thanks in advance

Chris

 

[VicS]

Boat made of wood or Grp?

What sort of screws are in use at present, wood screws, selftappers, machine screws?

 

[Stemar]

Many boat windows are held in by an arrangement of machine screw from the outside that screws into a sort of female screw on the inside. I can't remember what they're called, but I'm sure someone'll be along in a minute who can.

Aesthetically, they're a lot more acceptable than nuts & bolts, and they'll pull things together better than screws.

 

[chrisswift18]

The Boat is a GRP Swift 18. The screws are stainless steel self tapping.

Chris

 

[BrendanS]

your man is oldsaltoz, our guru on anything grp. He will describe to you in detail how to fill the holes

 

[ms1]

you need those screws as suggested by Stemar. one end is a screw head with a male thread othr end is a head with a female screw. They join inside the grp/ window sandwich and all you see in and out is a tidy head.
Like Stemar .. I cant remem what they are called. I think Hawke House sell them
http://www.hawkehouse.com/

 

[gandy]

[ QUOTE ]
.. I cant remem what they are called.

[/ QUOTE ] Interscrews. Try ..

http://hadlo-43547-001.dsvr.co.uk/Pages/Interscrews.html

 

[bumblefish]

Eagle boat windows have them, they call them 'inter-screws'

 

[machurley22]

[ QUOTE ]
I can't remember what they're called,

[/ QUOTE ]
Interscrews - possibly hyphenated.

The issue is the holes though and I hesitate to pontificate since I'm sure Oldsaltoz will be along in a minute. However..

I'd fill the holes with an epoxy/microfibre mix after first wetting out with neat epoxy (I might also put a square or two of woven glass tape behind if it wouldn't look too unsightly) before re-drilling pilot holes.

Also, satisfy yourself that a deck-stepped mast is not causing the superstructure to flex excessively.

Edit: must improve wpm.

 

[Lakesailor]

[ QUOTE ]

Also, satisfy yourself that a deck-stepped mast is not causing the superstructure to flex excessively.

[/ QUOTE ] I have details of making mast compression posts for 2 different 18ft cruisers if you need help there.

 

[Blue Fox]

Hesitate to mention it, as it probably isn't an example of fine engineering. But I solved the same problem by inserting broken match sticks in the screw holes. Fixed it!

 

[jfkal]

Quote: I can't remember what they're called, but I'm sure someone'll be along in a minute who can.

Barrel nuts

 

[davidpbo]

PBO has a sketchbook on window replacement which mentions these screws in this months issue.

 

[Sgeir]

You can get Interscrews from Seals+Direct. They're very helpful on the phone and can advise.

EDIT: Sorry, I missed Gandy's mail.