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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Window Leaks

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kayest
Deckhand

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12 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/04/2004 : 08:38:18

As a brand new Cat 25 owner (brand new owner - 1980 boat), one of my first tasks is to fix some leaky windows. I'd appreciate any advice on how to go about doing this. What products to use, anything tricky about disassembly. Can I do it in the cold weather or should I wait til spring? Thanks in advance.

-Steve

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 12/04/2004 : 09:31:38

Hi Steve, and welcome. I have had my boat about a year now, after a couple of days on the forum I started noticing the various features of the forum. The first thing was the ability to read back in the forum. I spent several days reading the prior year's posts and found an incredible amount of info on things I was already wondering about and on things I was totally ignorant of.
I strongly recommend that you too read the last year's posts. You will find lots of info on repairing windows... lots.
You will also possibly get some wrong impressions as I did. After reading such a digested batch of info from contributors who's intention is to deal with problems and share solutions, you may think you have bought a POS. You have not. You have bought the very best boat of its type. Do not panic if you have a swing keel but do pay attention to the maintenance issues as you read about them. Also remember that you are reading input from people in very different locales. When you read differing ideas it is usually because their circumstances generate different solutions. I am an inland, shallow lake sailor who pulls every winter. My needs are very different than those on the coasts or even in the deep South.
There is also a Search feature in the forum software but it responds best to narrow inquiries that are based on memory rather than open questions. Once again you will be much more successful if you are searching for things you remember reading about than merely hope are there. Always narrow the search as much as possible. After reading a lot of posts you will begin searching certain people and forums. Forum=Catalina 25 member name=Leon Sisson then your maintenance issue keyword will often bring up exactly what you are looking for.
I hope you join, you will be very glad you did.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 12/04/2004 : 10:26:47

Welcome aboard Steve. You've purchased the best 'bang for the buck' of any trailerable pocket crusier.

Ok, here's the first two tasks of any new C25 owner:

1) Join the association.
2) Buy the Catalina Direct "Owners Handbook".
Great collection of helpful info, replacement/upgrade parts etc...

You can find them at ... http://www.catalinadirect.com/

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2004 : 12:37:23

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
As a brand new Cat 25 owner (brand new owner - 1980 boat), one of my first tasks is to fix some leaky windows. I'd appreciate any advice on how to go about doing this
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

Leaky window comments:
1. You will be tempted to try sealing them from the outside with silicone. Don't, or you will regret it later. This rarely results in a permanent solution, and that window will likely be leaking again within 2 years.
2. The longest lasting fix is to dissassemble the window, clean all mating surfaces thoroughly, and reassemble it with new vinyl glazing channels and sealant. The Catalina Factory can e-mail you an instruction sheet on how to go about this, and you can buy the correct materials from their parts department or Catalina Direct in Rancho Cordova, Cailif.
3. If you really like your boat and are sure you will want to keep it for a long time, there is a retrofit kit available from Cruising Concepts, here is the URL: http://www.cruisingconcepts.com/retroftwin.htm
This kit retrofits your cabin windows to be similar to the "flush mount" Lexan windows on 1986 and newer Catalinas, but they are rather expensive, so you probably should do this only if you feel sure you will be keeping the boat for a long time.

Edited by - lcharlot on 12/05/2004 12:39:26

ronrryan
Admiral

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USA
561 Posts

Response Posted - 12/05/2004 : 18:55:20

(a) check the archives (b) There should be a post there labeled, if I remember, "windows tra la" which tells what I did to make a sort of 1/2 complete repair, which involved removing the window but NOT complete disassembly, and which has been very successful. I urge you NOT to use automotive butyl tape if you live in a HOT area, as I do, it tends to run over time, although it seals very well. Good luck, ron srsk Orion SW FL

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 12/06/2004 : 23:27:30

Steve,

I completely disassembled my portlights (mainly because my PO made a complete mess of everything with silicone.) While I had everything apart I had new smoked glass made and the aluminum frames re-anodized. I used Life Caulk to reseal the frames to the cabin and had an auto glass store seal the space between the outside surface of the glass and the frame with an professional grade automotive caulk. The glass appeared to have been epoxied on the inside of the frame - so that's how I reattached them.
Good luck and be patient - it takes time to do this project.

Steve Madsen
OJ (Ode to Joy)
#2428

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.