Window refurbishment question

[Stemar]

I'm refurbishing one of the windows on my Snapdragon 24. It's about 1m40 or 50 long by about 18-20cm high. The glazing is split in the middle, with an alloy bar and the frame itself is also split into two vertically. It's a daft design and has leaked from the join more or less constantly as it's a natural weak spot. The other side is original - over 40 years old, split horizontally and doesn't leak.

I can't find a suitable U-channel seal, so I'm going to have to use wedge seals either side of the perspex and, because I have to slide the quite long, narrow panes in lengthways, any use of sealant is likely to be messy and relatively ineffective where it really matters, at the join between the frame halves.

I'm thinking of accepting that water is going to find its way into the frame behind the seals sooner rather than later so I need to give it somewhere to go other than dripping on to the dinette table. One way of doing this would be to cut weep holes from the bottom of the glazing channel to the outside. The windows are quite high on the cabin sides so, if they ever get immersed in the 'oggin, a bit of water going back up the weeps will be the least of my worries.

Does the wisdom of the forum think this is this a good idea or a stupid one and why?

If a good one, how big should the holes be to encourage good drainage? Too big will obviously weaken the frame & look horrible, too small and the surface tension of the water will keep it from flowing out. My first thought is to have two in each half of the window, one near each end, about 3mm high by 10 wide.

Before you ask, I 've just got a new main and genoa, so the Chief Accountant is quite clear that the budget doesn't allow for new windows.

 

[ianat182]

Suggest that if possible you make an exact copy of the end section of the rubber seal by an imprint on a paper and send to Portmere Rubber company in Southampton who may have the pattern in stock already; failing this (Chief Accountant permitting) you could try Trafalgar Yacht Services in Fareham who stock a similar rubber seal for the Westerly range of yachts; or as a first option, telephone the Chandlery Barge at Bursledon who may have some stock hidden away in their Aladdin's cave of a barge. Google for the phone numbers as I don't have them to hand right now.
Hope this helps.

ianat182

 

[ghostlymoron]

I know someone who has had his windows refurbed by a glazing firm. (monkmoor glass in shrewsbury). Cost was very reasonable and results good. You could give them a ring as they have the correct rubbers.

 

[Highcliffe]

I have been refurbing my side windows, I found Seals + Direct on www.sealsdirect.co.uk (turned out to be just down the road in New Milton) and bought the rubber U section and sealant for the frame and also the expanded neoprene for sealing between the frame and the cabin, job done. They also do the window rubbers for the fixed front window, next years job.