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Windows Success Story

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familysailor
1st Mate

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USA
38 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/06/2005 : 15:08:35

No, I don’t want to start a debate on PC vs. Mac

but after all the talk, pro and con, about sealing the aluminum framed windows on our Catalina’s I wanted to share my success story, along with a few tips I believe I gleaned from the experience.

Two of my six windows were leaking visibly and all of them looked like garbage. I pulled all of the windows out (while the boat was under its winter tarp) and put them in the basement, where they sat until I had a few spare moments. I worked on one window at a time, disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled using the Catalina Direct seals and plenty of sealer. Several weeks later (after I foolishly thought it had warmed up for Spring) I pulled the tarp, cleaned the old sealint from around the window openings, and installed the windows again. Three significant rainstorms and a couple of freezes later (I told you I was foolish to think it had warmed up) I have seen no sign of leaks and the windows look much better. YAHOO!!!!!

Now for a few tips for those of you who are still reading. First, clean, clean, clean. I used a razor blade to scrape and scrape at the old sealer until it was gone. Then I washed the window and the aluminum channel with soap and water and dried thoroughly. Second tip, mask off anything you don’t want sealer on. I know it says this in the CD directions but believe me, do it. That means the whole window glass except the part in the seal, both sides. I did not do this on the first window and spent the next few days trying to get off the thin coating of sealer that had found its way onto the glass. The last tip is don’t be afraid to use plenty of sealer. If you have masked off the windows and frame it is easy to wipe away anything that oozes out, but you can’t add more if you are short.

Sorry this is so long. I don’t post often but apparently I try to make up for it when I do post. Fair winds all. Oh yea, I splashed the boat on Tuesday. What a great day.

Russ
Catalina 25 SK/SR #240 "Daydream"
Provo, Ut.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2005 : 12:50:54

WOW RUSS....102 times your post was read and no one responded...I couldn't let that go by without a resounding WWWWAAAYYY TTTTOOOO GOOO

RUSS

Val on the hard DAGNABIT

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chancewane
Deckhand

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USA
17 Posts

Response Posted - 04/08/2005 : 22:12:07

Congrats and thanks for the tips!!

I purchased the seals from CD last fall and plan on doing them in a few weeks. What sealer do you recommend

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familysailor
1st Mate

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USA
38 Posts

Response Posted - 04/11/2005 : 13:32:57

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by chancewane
 What sealer do you recommend

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I used clear Boatlife Lifeseal for the window to frame joint and white 3M 4200 for the frame to boat joint. The aft windows port and starboard have to twist a fair amount when you put them back into the boat and I was worried they would crack but all was well. There are also several threads on window sealing in the archives if you would like to get others opinions. Here are a few:
http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8116& SearchTerms=frame,aluminum,window,seal
http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7673& SearchTerms=frame,aluminum,window,seal
http://www.catalina25-250.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6664& SearchTerms=frame,aluminum,window,seal'
Good luck.

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
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.