Tape for temporary window covers whilst windows are out?

Cardo

Cardo

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Morning all
Today our plan is to remove two of our particularly leaky windows and send them off to be properly re-sealed. I saw another boat that had taken their windows out and they covered the holes with a tough plastic that was taped into place. I'm sure I can find some suitable plastic, however could someone suggest what tape to use? Need something that'll stick to plastic and grp deck and remain waterproof. Thoughts?
 
Cardo said:
Morning all
Today our plan is to remove two of our particularly leaky windows and send them off to be properly re-sealed. I saw another boat that had taken their windows out and they covered the holes with a tough plastic that was taped into place. I'm sure I can find some suitable plastic, however could someone suggest what tape to use? Need something that'll stick to plastic and grp deck and remain waterproof. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

if it doesnt move & should = WD40
if it moves & shouldnt = Gaffer tape
 
I used black plastic bin liners and duct tape. Left it on a little too long and getting it off again involved white spirit and elbow grease, but kept the rain out.
 
I thought about duck/gaffer tape, however won't that leave some horrible residue behind when it comes off, as above?
The stuff this other boat used looked a lot like electrical tape, though I don't think it was electrical tape.
 
Cardo said:
I thought about duck/gaffer tape, however won't that leave some horrible residue behind when it comes off, as above?
The stuff this other boat used looked a lot like electrical tape, though I don't think it was electrical tape.
Click to expand...

When I did mine I used 2 " wide grey carpet tape, same as duck/gaffer tape and some of that blue Builders DPM plastic, very strong.
Any residue left behind when removing tape remove with a bit of white spirit or meths.

The new windows have transformed the boat!
 
I would suggest getting the 50mm wide clear plastic tape from the likes of B&Q. Not Sellotape but the stuff used for joining carpets & carpet underlay. Sticks really well and leaves no residue on removal. Look for it in the carpet section.

When some ba****d smashed in my side window of the car, this is the stuff Autoglass used along with a piece of flexible perspex to create a temporary window until the replacement arrived. Survived for a few days at up 70mph & raining so it should work for you.
 
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Insulation tape is about the only thing I have found that comes off without leaving a residue.

The worst ( I used it for just what you are doing) is parcel tape. You practically need an angle grinder to get it off again.
 
I did mine in the summer and covered them with polythene sheeting - something that a mattress was delivered in. I used duck tape and it remained watertight in some very heavy winds and rain. BUT the worst job was not refitting the windows but getting the duck tape glue off the fibreglass. After a couple of weeks it was the devil to remove. I used white spirit on a rough cloth in the end - someone said petrol would be better.
 
There must be different adhesive used with the different duct tapes - I have a patch of residue that is completely resistant to every type of solvent in my arsenal, including acetone.

The DIY stores sell stuff called 'All weather repair tape' and it's perfect; Stays put and comes off cleanly when done.
 
I use SILAGE tape.Similar to electrical tape(but wider) doesnt leave any residue.Farmers use it to tape up the big black rolls of silage so you can get it in most agricultural stores.
 
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certainly go for the silage tape. Sticks like sh*t to a blanket and removes without leaving any residue. Fully waterproof.


From any farm supplier's.
 
Have to disagree about masking tape. I saw a boat long ago that had bits of masking tape on the hull for several years. The owner had left it on for several weeks and found it almost impossible to remove after that length of time.

Unless it has changed in past few years, it will tear easily and be difficult to remove after a short time. I used duct tape when I removed my windows several years ago. It was strong, quite tear resistant and residue was easy to remove with solvent (I think meths or white spirit).

Silage tape sound good, hadn't heard of it before.
 
Well, we did one of the windows today. What a right bugger to get out! Used polythene that had come with a mattress, much like a suggestion above and duck tape to hold it in place. As long as I can get any residue off, then I'm happy!
 
Definitely duct/gaffer tape; it will leave a residue after being on for a while, but it can be removed with a solvent. WD40 is pretty good.
 
Duck/gaffer tape is fine as long as it doesn't get wet. I don't know where your windows are but ours get VERY wet. I've used Duck tape in wet places and it's disastrous - peels off of its own accord and leaves a sticky residue.

I've used aluminium backed tape to seal windows temporarily, pending dry weather. It's totally waterproof and is fairly easy to remove.
 
Cardo said:
Well, we did one of the windows today. What a right bugger to get out! Used polythene that had come with a mattress, much like a suggestion above and duck tape to hold it in place. As long as I can get any residue off, then I'm happy!
Click to expand...

Meths and lighter fluid are both good at removing the glue left when the tape is removed. When I did my windows a few years back I used some ply bolted in place (to improve security) with tape and then polyethelyne sheet over the ply also taped in place. Last a few months during the window rebuild.
 
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