NoSlack’s Winter Project

[NoSlack]

Compared to Glenn’s winter project, this is more like a Wednesday afternoon project, but it still needed to be done. Last summer I entertained the idea of pulling the windows off the 23’ and replacing the whole thing with a molded fiberglass section and dark windows like the big boys have.

Shortly after hatching the idea and going over the plan with my dad, I lost him in a freak accident. I kicked around the idea of doing it myself for most of the fall before deciding all I really needed to do was center the glass back in the frames and real seal the windows.

Most of us 23’ owners have gobbed on the silicon over the year trying to keep the water on the outside of the windows. I really hate to use silicon as a fix, so I set off on a mission to fined a seal that would replace the original that Don installed some 25 years ago. I hit up the local window shop and they hooked me up with 4 or 5 different samples to try out.

Today I went back to the window shop and drop the big money ($12) on the perfect replacement seal. For you 23’ owners that don’t want to drop that kind of coin, I’ll save the old seals and bring them to the next BBQ for you guys to fight over.

New and old seal material


Old Seal


New Seal


Finished Side Window

[DOGHOUSE26]

From the pics it's hard to tell what the aluminum/stainless glass channel looks like; did you install the vinyl on both sides of the glass or was the original only on one side?

By the way, you can forget about a jewelry modeling career, your hands look like lizard feet!

[NoSlack]

I should've asked Charlie to be the hand model until I get some time to soak the paws in the bait tank.

The window frames on the 23' are alot like shower door frames. The rubber seal is only on the outside and the inside has a tacky strip that holds the glass in place. The other side window glass has sliped down a 1/4", so I need to lift it back up before I re-seal that one.

Mike

[yellowfin1]

Nice work Mike,

You never cease to amaze me with your boat improvement projects. I really like your plastic throttle upgrade on the flybridge (posted in another thread).

Scott

[DOGHOUSE26]

The glaziers I use stick a piece of 1/4" X 1/8",1/4" whatever rubber block height is needed to prevent the glass from slipping down, a good idea since a boat moves so much.

[NoSlack]

Re-sealed the front windows today.

[hijole]

Geat look!

What is the window made of? MIne are plexiglass. About 5 years ago they all went bad. 'From the inside they look like shattered glass. Yours look real clean. Does it look as good as the picture?

Is the job similar to removing a window at home or do the frames have to be removed?

[NoSlack]

I believe my windows are tinted tempered glass.

To re-seal them you need to pick out the old seal from the outside, clean all the old sealer and silicone out of the grove, then press in the new one. Simulare to pressing in the rubber for a window screen.

Mike