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 It is very aggravating when a window leaks. A window leaking can cause damage, as well. There are a couple of reasons why windows leak. The most common reason is because the seal is separated between the outside frame and window glass. Need information about window weather stripping?
How to Decide Where Leak Is
Determine source of the leak. Determine if it is the seal between the aluminum frame and fiberglass cabin top or if it is the seal between the aluminum frame and glass.
To determine if it is the cabin seal, water will drip off the inside frame or will run down the fiberglass hull liner below the window. It should not be wet inside the frame channel when you pull off the rubber trim molding around the inside of the window frame.
If water accumulates in the channel for the trim molding, it is probably a glass to frame seal. However, sometimes both will leak.
How to Fix a Glass to Frame Window Seal Leak
- Remove window. Be careful that it does not fall.
- Remove old seal
- Cut carefully around the whole glass- right along aluminum frame with a razor knife or X-acto knife to help remove the old silicone rubber seal.
- Cut at an angle into the joint. Cut with the blade lying against the glass to break the seal.
- Clean with solvent, alcohol, ammonia, glass cleaner, or some type of natural cleaner. The important thing is to make sure that all of the silicone and dirt residue are completely gone.
- Replace the seal with a clear Marine-grade silicone. Be sure to use ammonia based instead of an acid based seal. Acid based smells like vinegar. A good ammonia based silicone is Life Seal. Marine silicone has mildew control and it better at UV resistance than home use silicone. Spend the extra little bit for a more effective seal. You will likely need more than one tube.
- Run a bead down in the cutout to replace the old seal. Angle the tube so it forces the silicone down inside the cutout space.
- Lay a strip of masking tape down so you end up with a neat edge along the glass side.
- Use a wooden stick or blunt plastic item that has been wet with water so the sealer will not adhere. Run it around to make a nice even seal.
How to Fix a Frame to Cabin Top Window Leak
- Remove window and frame from the hull.
- Remove all old mastic from both the cabin top fiberglass and the aluminum frame. It will be very hard to get off, but it is important to get it off. Before you use a harsh solvent, like acetone or VC thinner, try to get as much of it off first. Be sure to wear gloves and goggles for protection of these harsh chemicals.
- Check frame to make sure it is not bent. If it is bent, it will likely leak again.
- Place window in the opening to see if there are gaps.
- Mark the outside of the cabin top lightly with a pencil around the frame or just at the corners to help you know where the frame fits properly.
- Replace the seal. A butyl rubber seal should be put onto the back side of the frame. It comes in off white and black. The white is more sticky, flexible and easier to use.
- Put the rubber in, but don’t stretch it in place.
- Make the butt joint for the butyl rubber seal at the bottom of the window. Butt the two ends tightly, do not overlap the rubber. Make the seal a little too long so that when you butt them, there is a little pressure holding two ends together.
- Replace the window.
Two options for removing excess: (1) Let the butyl rubber set overnight. Wait to pull off the excess that comes out around the frame outside. When it is time, use a wooden stick or plastic putty knife to cut around the aluminum frame. (2) You can also choose to trim off the excess with a razor knife or X-acto knife IMMEDIATELY.
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