Acrylic window sealer

[dvpamenter]

Putting new windows in Ossifrage. The windows are acrylic, will be slightly inset and held lightly with mechanical fasteners. What sealant/adhesive product have others had +++ success with?

[sailingdog]

I would use Boatlife LifeSeal or 3M 4200, which are both polyureathane-based sealants. However, be aware that neither BoatLife LifeSeal or 3M 4200 stick well to teak. Other ways to do it are to use neoprene gaskets or butyl rubber-based window sealant tapes.

I would avoid polysulfide-based sealants, like BoatLife LifeCalk, as they tend to be a bit more reactive and while good for bedding hardware, will tend to attack plastics, like ABS, Lexan and Acrylic/Plexiglass.

[Freesail99]

You may also want to look into butal sealent the kind that is used for auto windshields.

[dvpamenter]

Are butyl sealants at all adhesive or need I rely on the mechanical (through bolt) fasteners?

[ntheyer]

Boatlife works well with teak if you use their primer specifically for teak. The primer is expensive ($16.00 or more for a half pint or so) but works very well.

[sailingdog]

Originally Posted by dvpamenter

Are butyl sealants at all adhesive or need I rely on the mechanical (through bolt) fasteners?

Depends on the exact sealant you're using, but most of the butyl tape sealants are fairly sticky IIRC.

[Neises]

I've been leak free (rain, hose, & lake, no salt) for a couple months with good ole GE Silicone II. $4 per tube from HomeDespot. Plexiglass to vinyl frames and fiberglass hull.

Just throwing it out there, not saying it's proper. My boat is a dingy with windows.

[Valiente]

I use the same thing, but in combination with a new version of the original C&C/CS gasketing. Silicone (clear) worked all last year with nary a drop and we took some green water amidships (not a lot, but enough to show any caulking shortcomings!)