Quick fix needed for leaking window (rubber gasket type)

[KellysEye]

>Captain Tolleys Crack Cure might do it,

I used that successfully, its worth a try.

 

[agurney]

Get a blunt knife and a thin piece of rag and slip it
Between the window and rubber so to clear any
Dirt out and then blow any water out with a bit of
Tube then just seal with some clear Geocel Marine sealant
Or similar with a thin nozzle, job done.

Dry it out as described, but use a contact adhesive (evo-stik, or similar).
I have found that silicone sealants don't stick well to the (persished and slightly damp) rubber.

 

[agurney]

If it's just one window at the moment, I would just replace the rubber strip on that one now and then do the rest next spring. It doesn't take long to do and will be more succesful than sealant/vaseline/captain tolley. You can get rubber strip from Seals direct. I glue the strips to make a complete ring which I think does a better job using superglue.

It's a job for the spring and a dry sunnny day.
It took me half a morning for my first attempt on my Vega's cabin windows; the second one was far quicker at around an hour.
The smaller forward windows are a pain beacuse of the tight radius and are more awkward than the cabin's.

 

[ghostlymoron]

It's a job for the spring and a dry sunnny day.
It took me half a morning for my first attempt on my Vega's cabin windows; the second one was far quicker at around an hour.
The smaller forward windows are a pain beacuse of the tight radius and are more awkward than the cabin's.

I still feel that carrying out a proper repair is likely to take less time in the long run than messing around with sealants that may not work. You only need a few hours dry weather to do the one that leaks.

 

[agurney]

I still feel that carrying out a proper repair is likely to take less time in the long run than messing around with sealants that may not work. You only need a few hours dry weather to do the one that leaks.

From experience, the leak will be from the middle of the window at top. The rubber seal shrinks as it ages, leaving a gap that lets the water in; it's a two minute patch repair that will last a few seasons.
Replacing the window seal is a tricky job for a couple of pairs of hands that isn't helped by low temperatures - and once you've committed to removing the old seal there's no going back.

 

[Kelpie]

Thanks for all the replies. Alistair, you're spot on about the location of the leak. I'm currently sitting aboard hoping for another rain shower to pass so I can see if the gunk I slathered all over the window a minute ago will make any difference. I couldn't find the big tub of vaseline I carry for such occasions so resorted to using some heavy grease. I have a piece of canvas rigged up as an ineffectual shield so that will hopefully stop the rain from washing the grease away too quickly.
Now all I need is someone to tell me that the grease will eat the rubber...

 

[Lakesailor]

Yes. You need the red rubber grease.

Can't see the problem with Captain Tolley's. It either works or it doesn't. If it does, job done 'till the summer. If not start warming up for a project.

 

[agurney]

Thanks for all the replies. Alistair, you're spot on about the location of the leak. I'm currently sitting aboard hoping for another rain shower to pass so I can see if the gunk I slathered all over the window a minute ago will make any difference. I couldn't find the big tub of vaseline I carry for such occasions so resorted to using some heavy grease. I have a piece of canvas rigged up as an ineffectual shield so that will hopefully stop the rain from washing the grease away too quickly.
Now all I need is someone to tell me that the grease will eat the rubber...

PM sent with info about sizes and part numbers etc. that I used last year for my Vega's window seals.

At this time of year you'll also get quite a bit of condensation so the drip rail will be working overtime; a judiciously placed bit of fabric might help to wick away the worst of the wet.

 

[theguerns]

CT1 Sealant I have been testing it for a couple of years and it beats Sikaflex hands down. All the windo seals on our Colvic Watson have been renewed with Ct1 and after all this time NO LEAKS. It works underwater and you can seal a leak in a window when its raining just when you can see where the leak is.