eastcoastbernie
New member
Replacement windows are a work in progress. The interscrews came off quite easily - I was expecting them to be siezed. We only had to hacksaw off two of the heads.
Then came the business of getting the windows to release from the sealant. Slowly and steadily, we managed to prise most of the starboad side off, then, crack, the perspex broke! Oh well, I expect they can make a template from a broken window.
Port side went about the same, but the window stayed intact. Next job was getting all the silicone off. I managed to scrape about 1/4 inch off while Dave went to the loo. When he returned I told him it was never going to work and we needed to think of another way to get the stuff off. He said maybe I should go and see if they had any silicone remover in the chandlers.
Off I went to chandlers, had long conversation with them about windows. They didn't have any silicone remover, but gave me lots of advice and suggested I buy some fancy scraping tool which they don't stock.
Returned to boat to find Dave had removed most of the silicone from the port side. Still lots of residue though. He suggested I go off to B&Q to buy some silicone remover.
I clear off to B&Q, get lost in the aisles, finally found a couple of promising looking scraping tools and the silicone remover. Buy three lots. Return to boat.
Dave has now stripped starboard side but lots of residue left. We have a cup of tea and some cake while I show Dave my B&Q goodies. He is not impressed with either of my scraping tools but pleased to see the silicone remover.
I read instructions - Dave has forgotton his glasses - it says 'leave on for 2-3 hours'. What? It's already about 18.00 hours. Dave spreads some on quick.
Later on, we give it a go and, to our amazement - silicon has softened sufficiently for most of it to be scraped off. I follow up with the wet wipes and a bit of elbow grease and things looking a lot better.
Still some residue, but probably not enough to matter. Might still have to sandpaper a little, or T cut or something. Next problem is what to stick the new windows down with. Silicone again? Sikaflex? Or the adhesive foam rubber strip?
Answers quickly please. Need to put the new windows in next weekend.
Then came the business of getting the windows to release from the sealant. Slowly and steadily, we managed to prise most of the starboad side off, then, crack, the perspex broke! Oh well, I expect they can make a template from a broken window.
Port side went about the same, but the window stayed intact. Next job was getting all the silicone off. I managed to scrape about 1/4 inch off while Dave went to the loo. When he returned I told him it was never going to work and we needed to think of another way to get the stuff off. He said maybe I should go and see if they had any silicone remover in the chandlers.
Off I went to chandlers, had long conversation with them about windows. They didn't have any silicone remover, but gave me lots of advice and suggested I buy some fancy scraping tool which they don't stock.
Returned to boat to find Dave had removed most of the silicone from the port side. Still lots of residue though. He suggested I go off to B&Q to buy some silicone remover.
I clear off to B&Q, get lost in the aisles, finally found a couple of promising looking scraping tools and the silicone remover. Buy three lots. Return to boat.
Dave has now stripped starboard side but lots of residue left. We have a cup of tea and some cake while I show Dave my B&Q goodies. He is not impressed with either of my scraping tools but pleased to see the silicone remover.
I read instructions - Dave has forgotton his glasses - it says 'leave on for 2-3 hours'. What? It's already about 18.00 hours. Dave spreads some on quick.
Later on, we give it a go and, to our amazement - silicon has softened sufficiently for most of it to be scraped off. I follow up with the wet wipes and a bit of elbow grease and things looking a lot better.
Still some residue, but probably not enough to matter. Might still have to sandpaper a little, or T cut or something. Next problem is what to stick the new windows down with. Silicone again? Sikaflex? Or the adhesive foam rubber strip?
Answers quickly please. Need to put the new windows in next weekend.
