Sailboat Tip: Replacement Plastic Frame Windows
Many older production boats, like my Islander 28, have windows with their frames made of plastic. Frequently these frames, made from styrene, get brittle, crack and leak. Rebuilding them is possible, but I've tried it twice with little success, they seem to leak between the frame and plexiglas.A few years ago I came across this boat window manufacturer:
Go Windows - Mark Plastics
369 E. Harrison St., Unit G, Corona, CA. 92879
Tel: 951 735-7705
Mark has molds of all the old production boat windows (like Cal, Columbia and Islander, etc.) and can make a new, better than OEM, window. He will drill them to match your trim rings, just mail him the old ones. They only come in dark or white plastic. I had him leave the masking on the windows and then just spray the frames with model airplane paint which comes in a wide range of colors that you should be able to match to your existing frames. It seems to stick well to the plastic frames also.
I'd put them in with a Boat Life "Life Clear" sealant. Don't use 3M 5200, you'll never get them out if they leak.
Thanks for the info! We just picked up a little Capitol Neptune 16' that desperatley needs new windows, hopefully they can accomodate.
Posted by
Anonymous |
10:53 AM
We are refurbishing a late 70s 28 ft Lancer that needs new windows (6 each). Wondered if you had another contact locally. We are located in Lynden, Washington
Posted by
Anonymous |
1:05 PM
You can try just regluing new lexan in, but it generally will leak in my experience as the frames are brittle. Any plastics place may be able to help.
If they are metal frames you should be able to get them fixed, maybe at an RV window type place.
Posted by
Jack |
2:57 PM
my friend she have a 1967 Cal 30 ft sailboat. Her sail haves metal frames and the metal is crowding away what be the best way to replace them without a high cost to make them
Posted by
Unknown |
11:01 PM