Replaceing my windows nightmare

[trecksail]

And that is why I would never use 5200 for anything on my boat! I have and I'm sure many here have also damaged hull and deck glasswork when trying to remove a previously bed 5200 item. I don't have the numbers in front of me but 5200's breaking strength is much greater than fiberglass. According to the manufacturer it is a PERMANENT adhesive. In my humble (depending who you ask) opinion, NOTHING on a boat is permanent!

Yes, there are those who say that 5200 has uses. So, I have to concur that if I had a 16 year old daughter, I may consider using 5200 to "secure" her bedroom window lets just say from stray drafts. But thank god I don't have a 16 year old daughter!

[Hudsonian]

I've done it twice. The first time took four hours with wedges, levers, wire, 5200 solvent, and lots of collateral damage. The second time took 25 minutes with the scraper blade on a Fein multimaster. It stunk as the blade melted its way through the 5200 but it was easy to clean up and there was minimal damage.

[hellosailor]

The crack filler is like a thinned epoxy, it works very well on HARD SURFACES and rotting wood. It isn't for leaking portlights. Basically, if you want a temporary kludge you can buy a toilet bowl seat (big beeswax donut) for about $4 and use the wax to seal the frames for now. Anything better will still leak again soon anyhow, at least thewax is cheap, easy to apply, easy to remove. (And you must clean it off to apply anything better later with the new portlights.)

You might be able to break the bond by hitting the frames with a torch (have an extinguisher on hand just in case). That will cause most sealants to break down and as long as you get them hot without overheating the fiberglass--that should do it. If the thought makes you uncomfortable--don't do it that way. A professional strength heat gun might also work for you.

I like the idea of using the Fein but of course that means buying tools.

[sailbot]

This is one of those time I shud have left well enough alone,
I got some DEBOND on order. when I get the frames off I'll have to fix the busted Fiberglass. Im hoping to stick a wedge in broken spots and goop epoxy into the broken bits, then let set and reinstall everything sealed with Lifecaulk, curse you 3M

[Freesail99]

If you use any clamps when working on the busted fiberglass with epoxy, be sure to use wax paper, so nothing sticks.

[hellosailor]

Sailbot, before you go "strcking bits" and placing curses...consider that 3M would be the first ones to tell anyone DO NOT USE 5200 UNLESS IT WILL BE FOREVER. It was the wrong material to use--if it was used--on those frames.

And, you're about to make the same mistake of using the wrong materials without consulting a maker as to how to do the job right. Find the West System Epoxy web site, look at their article archive on how to properly fix fiberglass, and fix the cabin sides properly before you reseat the frames. Just gooping stuff in is likely to leave you in the same situation you started in. If their articles don't tell you exactly what you want to know, call them. They provide free technical assistance (your dime for the phone call) to anyone who asks, and they just hope you'll return the favor by buying their products. (Which are certainly competitive.)

They are both great companies, that produce top quality products and top quality support. If someone misuses them--that's not their fault.

[sailingdog]

I'd second what HelloSailor said about not barging ahead and making the situation worse. Do the repair properly, and don't do anything that is going to screw the future repair up as a stop gap measure. If you really need to protect the ports from leaking, use duct tape and a large trash bag and tape the trashbag over the ports.

[sailbot]

Its allways good to blame a PO for a mess your in. but in this case its true, I would have stuck to Lifecaulk,
I guess the 3M is just dooing what they said it would, Sorry 3M

Any way decided on cutting the whole mess out, I'll just use the old frames for a guide for my jigsaw, then I got a fresh new surface to work with.

Allways nice to have bigger windows anyway...

[jarcher]

Originally Posted by sailbot

Any way decided on cutting the whole mess out, I'll just use the old frames for a guide for my jigsaw, then I got a fresh new surface to work with.

What are you going to replace it with?

If you have some extra time, snap some pictures for us.

[sailbot]

I was going to get some smoked Lexan and not use frames at all, I'll just LifeCaulk and #8 stainless bolts, I can wait to see her with smoked windows, now that will be sexy...