I replaced mine when I got Falcon in 96 used lifecaulk to bed them no problem for until last year Falcon may live up the Bay but she goes off shore to Off Soundings every year and as been out it some very heavy weather The boat is in the shed having the decks awlgripped so the windows are out The Plex is dead and I will go with the auto safety glass
The other option that is out there which Cory Butlin did to Blitz is to install the Lewmar opening port windows which might be real nice down south I don't cruise Falcon that much so I'll spend the money on new Self tailers this winter
Just to confuse you more, I redid mine with tinted Lexan MR10 sheet, which I bought off of ebay for next to nothing, then cut out with a table saw then a jigsaw for the curves.
MR10 is a special coated version designed for exposure to UV and abbrasion, and its nearly bullet proof. Its also really light. I did that coming up on 4 years ago and they are still crystal clear and not scratched:
Lexan* MR10 sheets improved Margard® II coating resists abrasion and defies graffiti to ensure a "like-new" appearance for many years to come. The next generation of UV absorbers, Margard® coating now incorporates enhanced UV absorbers to protect the sheet from the debilitating effects of sunlight. As a result, Lexan* MR10 is accompanied by extended warranties that are your assurance of long term product performance; 10 yr. prorated replacement warranty against breakage, yellowing, abrasion, loss of light transmission and coating delamination.^ 15 year warranty against yellowing and light transmission for qualified dual glazed systems.** Virtually unbreakable. High light transmission common to all Lexan* sheet products. Easily maintained without marring, hazing, or yellowing. Compiles with major model building codes
So OK ... to really clean the window frame it takes about 45 min apiece ... cutting off whatever was originally used, getting all traces of it off if you are going to use a high tech adhesive such as SikaFlex 295UV.
here is part 2 of the #505 window replacement series.
My previous owner used 5200. For me, it was more like 2.5 hours per port. I did all this over about 4 trips to the coast. Would love to find the guy who applied that stuff and beat him with a fresh tube of 5200.
I used simple white silicon to replace - it collects dirt a bit on the outside, but is very easy to clean with your thumb and will be very easy for the next guy.
Dremel with rough drum. and stay away from the outside deck edge ... Taylor did not break through the gel coat except for some "voids" that we see everywhere on original j30 gel coat.
Agree 5200 is dumb as many people think it is the "all" around adhesive. The four windows took 1 tube of Sikaflex 295 UV which is recommended for polycarbonate. more on that lata.
The last time I re-seated my cabin windows was 7-10 years ago. I thought I would be smart and used black caulk thinking it would make the windows look bigger - insert prettier here - from a distance. Given that I never see the boat from more than 20 feet away, the windows don't look any bigger. What I did gain was a mess. The black oxidizes and the crew's feet, rain, etc, drags black markes all over the cabin sides. Of course, I was also dumb enough to use it on the inside too, ugh. It's on my list of things to do - somewhere below installing spartite around my mast. One additional note: I've used 3M white polishing compound followed by paste wax on the windows. They clean up real nice.
follow up note ... already have one noticeable scratch ... was impact from jaw of spin pole ... don't ask ... but I wonder how well glass would have taken knock with jaw. But then don't they have those epoxy kits to repair dings from gravel to windshields?
While I always enjoy watching Vic's videos, I'm most impressed by this young man Taylor. He always seems ready and willing to work, whether it's sailing or maintenance.
if you keep in the context of 13 year old ... kid has very surprisingly competent moments ...
Today's racing proved to him that he can only trust his senior team mates [if they haven't been on the boat recently] to remember to do the right thing only "most" of the time.
I may have to have him start reviewing stuff with the old guys before we race. I'm thinking this is going to be hard for the old guys to have a 13 year old refresh their memories.
