Newly replaced hatch glass leaking!

[skyflyer]

New perspex 10mm, fitted to Lewmar hatch and all looked good but the damn thing started to weep this weekend in the torrential rain!

I used a PU sealant around the edge, to fill the 4mm gap between the frame edge and the perspex. I cleaned the previous sealant off with a "silicone eater" product and the frame seemed spotless. I took care to ensure the gap was fully filled and tooled down the top so it was level and smooth. Evidently it isnt sealing somewhere though!

Obviously I'll have to dig it all out again and re-clean everything off and I have been advised to use Arbosil this time. Not sure what the ebst product is for removing PU sealant rather than silicone though?

However, anyone have any top tips for the final cleaning of the frame, and more particularly the perspex edge. I dont want to use something that melts the plastic!

Any other tips also welcomed!

 

[Spyro]

I had similar problem. I used PU18 to rebed a hatch lens. It stuck to either the Perspex or the aluminium but not both. I can't remember which. When the handles were pushed up to open the hatch it was just pushing the lens out of the frame. Nothing else holds it in apart from the sealant. . Did it again with CT1. Much better result

 

[ip485]

I have done a few of these and had a leak. I found that you could work out approximately where it was leaking (run water over the hatch) and then run a little fresh sealant along the joint. It will usually literally be a pin prick hole in the sealant and often easy enough to see.

I have never gone to the lengths of cleaning off all the sealant and really dont think this is necessary.