Small leak in hull port window

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West Coast

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Hi all,

Boat is Jeanneau SO 439 from 2012, has 4 narrow hull windows per side bonded in place (non openable), similar to many AWBs of recent years.

We were sailing downwind in some reasonably heavy winds in the Minch recently (ave 35, gust 45kn) with some awkward seas. We had only a well reefed genoa up and boat handled OK. Most of the trip was on starboard run, with steering to suit the large following seas. We had a number of instances where waves caught the stern of the boat pushing the aft port quarter hard down into the water as she tried to broach to starboard, and this would have included immersing the aft hull window.

On arrival, we found that some salt water had got into the port aft cabin. After investigation, I have come to the conclusion that this ingress must have been through the hull window bonded joint. Certainly the water pressures at some points must have been large, but still not comfortable if this window leaks! Checking the window from the dinghy, it seems solidly in place, with no immediately obvious damage or deterioration to the external seal.

So - question, has any other owners experienced similar and what was the remedy?

Does anyone know how jeanneau install these hull windows? I know they are bonded, but are they bonded then external mastic seal applied? the external seal seems very neat mastic type finish

thanks all
 
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Sadly it appears that the bonding is starting to deteriorate and as you know ,won't repair itself . As stated in the OP these hull windows are subjected to heavy pressure ,sometimes considerable shock loads . My advice would be to remove and reseal what ever the procedure is . Failure at the wrong could be catastrophic.
 
I'd use CT1 for that if you are going to remove & reseal, easy enough to make a neat job of it with judicious use of masking tape. They also have a product (Multisolve) to aid removal of previous sealant so mechanical removal of most of it followed by that and then refit the window...
 
Talking with a Fairline dealer from the South of Frrance several months ago, he said their biggest problem with warranty work was bonded windows in the hull. The only solution is to remove and refit, but expect to do this on a regular basis. Personally I feel hull windows should have a mechanical fixing of bolts as well as modern hulls do flex, which is the cause of the seal breaking down.
 
I'd be interested to know with what and how Jeanneau puts in these hull windows, also coachroof windows. There appears to be no mechanical fixings at all. Mine are not leaking - yet. In my experience every boat sooner or later leaks somewhere.
 
A jeanneau owner in the US has a SO439 2 cabin version with the port aft cabin as a store locker. The window in this port locker does not have interior cover, and he reports that there seems to be a harder type adhesive used to bond the window to the FRP hull, with a separate sealant used to make the external seal with cosmetic finish. He sent photos but it is hard to make this out from the photo.
 
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