Window sealant

[MacMan]

I have some slight leaks around some windows and I think the rub rail on my Prout 33. It's a big job to actually remove the windows and do a "proper" job of resealing so I was tempted to leave the windows in place and scrape out some of the old sealant and put new sealant on top. The windows themselves are prefectly "secure" there are just some minor leaks.

What would the panel recommend as the best sealant for the job ?
It there and "sealant cleaner" which could be used to help remove some of the existing sealant ?

The windows look like this

 

[grafozz]

hi mac , i just did mine yesterday ! i thought i would do the "slip some sealer in "bit , but as i started to VERY carefully ease out the window on my cat to squeeze some in, it started to lift away from the old sealant. i gradually ,with 2 rubber handled screwdrivers one top and bottom, eased the whole pane out.

it was made easy by the fact that the sealant had lost contact over the years , with the window in several places . it took 20 mins to remove the whole thing .
my windows are fitted exactly the same as yours and i tried, 2 years back , to squeeze more sealer in and although it looked ok it failed !

so my tip would be crack on with taking it out , you,ll be glad you did during next shower !

my old sealant was still well fixed to the boat so i laid a bead on that and fitted the window back . a tip , sand the face and edge which contacts the sealant to give it a key. mine were not keyed at all , which is probably why the sealant let go . good luck . /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Skyva_2]

That is a non trivial job to remove and reseal, it will have to be done someday...

As an interim fix I have used Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure, which worked for a while.

 

[MacMan]

What sealant did you reseal/re-bed them with after they had come out ?

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

Have you tried :
Captain Tolley's Creeping Crack Cure (Finds and Fixes Leaks)

http://www.captaintolley.com/

I have found it to be excellent for window leaks.Its a thin liquid which follows the track that the water would take by capillary action and then firms up and seals.

 

[Skyva_2]

Sikaflex can be used but its very difficult to remove when the time comes.

This stuff Arbosil 1096 has been recommended :

http://www.arbo.co.uk/product-selector.php?page=Arbosil-1096

 

[MacMan]

Have tried Captain Jolleys - had some good success on my previous boats but sadly I am looking at bigger gaps now.

 

[vyv_cox]

Sikaflex make a sealant specifically for windows. Don't use 291 general sealant, use the proper stuff. Sikaflex 295 UV

I don't think you would be either happy or successful trying to botch a repair without doing the job properly. You will almost certainly find that once you start loosening the holding screws the windows will lift a little and removal will be relatively easy. I have done eight windows, somewhat smaller than yours but with almost as many screws, in less than a weekend. They were never touched after that and still sealed well some years later.