Replacing Foggy Windows on F30

Posted by Mark Thompson (methomp@…>)

I started to replace the foggy windows of my 1988 F30. Upon removing
the first screw, water started streaming out. I am hoping that this is
a blessing and I can replace the window before any damage occurs. Has
anyone had any experience with this project? Maybe it is too big for
me & I should bite the bullet and have the yard do it? “Say it ain’t
so!” If I can in fact do this myself, are there any recommendations
that anyone could make to improve the job I will do? Are there any
pitfalls I should watch out for? My boat is on the hard right now in
Grosse Pointe, MI. I think it is as good a time as any to tackle this
job. Any input would be appreciated. I will keep the community updated
on my experience, since so many of the F30s have the same foggy windows.
Mark Thompson
Goombay Smash

Posted by Lorman, Alvin J. (ajlorman@…>)


Mark:

Good luck! I tried to remove one of mine recently and couldn’t get it out. So I decided it could stay there a while longer. This past weekend, I polished my boat with a product called Buff Magic and discovered that it did a very nice job of cleaning up the foggy windows.

Please consider taking photos, etc., so you can guide the rest of us through this job.

Al Lorman
F30 Ab Initio

-----Original Message-----From: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com [mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Mark ThompsonSent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 1:43 PMTo: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.comSubject: [freedomyachts2003] Replacing Foggy Windows on F30I started to replace the foggy windows of my 1988 F30. Upon removingthe first screw, water started streaming out. I am hoping that this isa blessing and I can replace the window before any damage occurs. Hasanyone had any experience with this project? Maybe it is too big forme & I should bite the bullet and have the yard do it? “Say it ain’tso!” If I can in fact do this myself, are there any recommendationsthat anyone could make to improve the job I will do? Are there anypitfalls I should watch out for? My boat is on the hard right now inGrosse Pointe, MI. I think it is as good a time as any to tackle thisjob. Any input would be appreciated. I will keep the community updatedon my experience, since so many of the F30s have the same foggy windows.Mark ThompsonGoombay Smash

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Posted by Fargo Rousseau (fargo_r@…>)
Mark: I presume by foggy you mean hazy from surface scratches and aging of the large two large fixed plastic glazed ports on either side of the main cabin. I have the same issue…along with oozing black caulking along the perimeter. I removed one of these ports four months ago because it was leaking. Found a very poorly cut bare opening (same discovery when removing all of the opening ports). Freedom quality not good on this point. I did not have the time to try polishing out the surface of the plastic but I know that the boat will never look right until the plastic glazing is replace. There is just too much internal degredation in the plastic panels. I hope you can find a shop that can replace the glazing and tell all of us. As to reinstallation, we followed the same proceedure and used the same materials recommended by Beckson. Excellent results…no leaks…and the fixed ports have
been well stress in the last few months of traveling south from New England to Florida. Will review Beckson info in the next email. Fargo F30#12 NARISAMark Thompson <methomp@…> wrote: I started to replace the foggy windows of my 1988 F30. Upon removing the first screw, water started streaming out. I am hoping that this is a blessing and I can replace the window before any damage occurs. Has anyone had any experience with this project? Maybe it is too big for me & I should bite the bullet and have the yard do it? “Say it ain’t so!” If I can in fact do this myself, are there any recommendations that anyone could make to improve the job I will do? Are there any pitfalls I should watch out for? My boat is on the hard right now in Grosse Pointe,
MI. I think it is as good a time as any to tackle this job. Any input would be appreciated. I will keep the community updated on my experience, since so many of the F30s have the same foggy windows. Mark Thompson Goombay Smash

Posted by Militello, Milo (milo.militello@…>)


Hi folks –
The previous owner of my F32 Hoyt cleaned
the plastic ports with either denatured alcohol or some other chemical
cleansing product that changed the ports from clear to completely hazed. I don’t
recommend cleaning the plastic ports with anything other than soap & water
if you want them to remain clear.

Milo
F32 island blues





From:
freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com [mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Fargo Rousseau
Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006
11:41 AM
To:
freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [freedomyachts2003]
Replacing Foggy Windows on F30

Mark:

I presume by foggy you mean hazy from surface
scratches and aging of the large two large fixed plastic glazed ports on either
side of the main cabin. I have the same issue…along with oozing black
caulking along the perimeter. I removed one of these ports four
months ago because it was leaking. Found a very poorly cut bare opening (same
discovery when removing all of the opening ports). Freedom quality not
good on this point.

I did not have the time to try polishing out the
surface of the plastic but I know that the boat will never look right until the
plastic glazing is replace. There is just too much internal degredation in the
plastic panels. I hope you can find a shop that can replace the glazing
and tell all of us.

As to reinstallation, we followed the same
proceedure and used the same materials recommended by Beckson. Excellent
results…no leaks…and the fixed ports have been well stress in the last few
months of traveling south from New England to Florida.

Will review Beckson info in the next email.

Fargo

F30#12 NARISA

Mark Thompson <methomp@…> wrote:
I started to replace the
foggy windows of my 1988 F30. Upon removing
the first screw, water started streaming out. I am
hoping that this is
a blessing and I can replace the window before any
damage occurs. Has
anyone had any experience with this project? Maybe
it is too big for
me & I should bite the bullet and have the yard
do it? “Say it ain’t
so!” If I can in fact do this myself, are
there any recommendations
that anyone could make to improve the job I will
do? Are there any
pitfalls I should watch out for? My boat is on the
hard right now in
Grosse
Pointe, MI. I think it is as good a time as any to tackle this
job. Any input would be appreciated. I will keep
the community updated
on my experience, since so many of the F30s have
the same foggy windows.
Mark Thompson
Goombay Smash







\

Posted by lance_ryley (lance_ryley@…>)

Starbrite makes a good two-part polish for plexiglass that has done
a very good job for Bright Star, although I’ve heard you can get
equal results from Brasso (which we used to use to polish
the “evershine” shoes in the military) or toothpaste, which of
course gives your ports not only a clean shine, but leaves them
minty fresh.

Of course, it’s not as good as having the ports reglazed. I had the
V-berth hatch done by Select Plastics in CT. They did an excellent
job and turned the job around very quickly. The reglazing was less
than half the cost of buying a new port.

Lance
Bright Star

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Militello, Milo”
<milo.militello@…> wrote:

Hi folks -

The previous owner of my F32 Hoyt cleaned the plastic ports with
either
denatured alcohol or some other chemical cleansing product that
changed
the ports from clear to completely hazed. I don’t recommend
cleaning
the plastic ports with anything other than soap & water if you
want them
to remain clear.

Milo

F32 island blues

Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)

Polishing with Brasso brass polish can help a lot, if you secide not
to replace the windows.
Michel


— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Mark Thompson”
<methomp@…> wrote:

I started to replace the foggy windows of my 1988 F30. Upon
removing
the first screw, water started streaming out. I am hoping that
this is
a blessing and I can replace the window before any damage occurs.
Has
anyone had any experience with this project? Maybe it is too big
for
me & I should bite the bullet and have the yard do it? “Say it
ain’t
so!” If I can in fact do this myself, are there any recommendations
that anyone could make to improve the job I will do? Are there any
pitfalls I should watch out for? My boat is on the hard right now
in
Grosse Pointe, MI. I think it is as good a time as any to tackle
this
job. Any input would be appreciated. I will keep the community
updated
on my experience, since so many of the F30s have the same foggy
windows.
Mark Thompson
Goombay Smash

Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)

Must have been acetone or trichlorethylene or something like that.
Never let it near plastic, unless you want to glue the plastic.

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Militello, Milo”
<milo.militello@…> wrote:

Hi folks -

The previous owner of my F32 Hoyt cleaned the plastic ports with
either
denatured alcohol or some other chemical cleansing product that
changed
the ports from clear to completely hazed. I don’t recommend
cleaning
the plastic ports with anything other than soap & water if you
want them
to remain clear.

Milo

F32 island blues


From: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Fargo
Rousseau
Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 11:41 AM
To: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [freedomyachts2003] Replacing Foggy Windows on F30

Mark:

I presume by foggy you mean hazy from surface scratches and aging
of the
large two large fixed plastic glazed ports on either side of the
main
cabin. I have the same issue…along with oozing black caulking
along
the perimeter. I removed one of these ports four months ago
because it
was leaking. Found a very poorly cut bare opening (same discovery
when
removing all of the opening ports). Freedom quality not good on
this
point.

I did not have the time to try polishing out the surface of the
plastic
but I know that the boat will never look right until the plastic
glazing
is replace. There is just too much internal degredation in the
plastic
panels. I hope you can find a shop that can replace the glazing
and
tell all of us.

As to reinstallation, we followed the same proceedure and used the
same
materials recommended by Beckson. Excellent results…no
leaks…and
the fixed ports have been well stress in the last few months of
traveling south from New England to Florida.

Will review Beckson info in the next email.

Fargo

F30#12 NARISA

Mark Thompson <methomp@…> wrote:

I started to replace the foggy windows of my 1988 F30. Upon
removing
the first screw, water started streaming out. I am hoping that
this is
a blessing and I can replace the window before any damage occurs.
Has
anyone had any experience with this project? Maybe it is too big
for
me & I should bite the bullet and have the yard do it? “Say it
ain’t
so!” If I can in fact do this myself, are there any recommendations
that anyone could make to improve the job I will do? Are there any
pitfalls I should watch out for? My boat is on the hard right now
in
Grosse Pointe, MI. I think it is as good a time as any to tackle
this
job. Any input would be appreciated. I will keep the community
updated
on my experience, since so many of the F30s have the same foggy
windows.
Mark Thompson
Goombay Smash


YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS


Posted by wink50109 (jlittle@…>)

mark
the job is not that difficult. i replaced the lites on my 39
express several years ago. be aware that their are several kinds of
plastic available. there is lexan and acrylic, one is much stronger
than the other and the other has a greater resistance to crazing or
fogging. honistly i forget which is which. whichever you use it is
very important to bed the materiel with the correct sealant. using
the wrong sealant will lead to cracking and failure. fourteen years
ago the yard replaced the port lites on my boat twice because they
used the wrong sealant the first time and within days the plastic
started to spiderweb all around the edges.— In
freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Mark Thompson” <methomp@…>
wrote:

I started to replace the foggy windows of my 1988 F30. Upon
removing
the first screw, water started streaming out. I am hoping that
this is
a blessing and I can replace the window before any damage occurs.
Has
anyone had any experience with this project? Maybe it is too big
for
me & I should bite the bullet and have the yard do it? “Say it
ain’t
so!” If I can in fact do this myself, are there any recommendations
that anyone could make to improve the job I will do? Are there any
pitfalls I should watch out for? My boat is on the hard right now
in
Grosse Pointe, MI. I think it is as good a time as any to tackle
this
job. Any input would be appreciated. I will keep the community
updated
on my experience, since so many of the F30s have the same foggy
windows.
Mark Thompson
Goombay Smash

Posted by Herman and Gail Schiller (hschiller2@…>)

Lexan (polycarbonate) is nearly bulletproof (very high strength),
Plexiglass/Lucite (Acrylic) is more resistant to UV radiation (That’s
why acrylic fabrics are used for covers, biminis, etc. Herm

At 02:53 PM 4/7/2006, you wrote:

mark
the job is not that difficult. i replaced the lites on my 39
express several years ago. be aware that their are several kinds of
plastic available. there is lexan and acrylic, one is much stronger
than the other and the other has a greater resistance to crazing or
fogging. honistly i forget which is which. whichever you use it is
very important to bed the materiel with the correct sealant. using
the wrong sealant will lead to cracking and failure. fourteen years
ago the yard replaced the port lites on my boat twice because they
used the wrong sealant the first time and within days the plastic
started to spiderweb all around the edges.— In
freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Mark Thompson” <methomp@…>
wrote:

I started to replace the foggy windows of my 1988 F30. Upon
removing
the first screw, water started streaming out. I am hoping that
this is
a blessing and I can replace the window before any damage occurs.
Has
anyone had any experience with this project? Maybe it is too big
for
me & I should bite the bullet and have the yard do it? “Say it
ain’t
so!” If I can in fact do this myself, are there any recommendations
that anyone could make to improve the job I will do? Are there any
pitfalls I should watch out for? My boat is on the hard right now
in
Grosse Pointe, MI. I think it is as good a time as any to tackle
this
job. Any input would be appreciated. I will keep the community
updated
on my experience, since so many of the F30s have the same foggy
windows.
Mark Thompson
Goombay Smash

Yahoo! Groups Links

Posted by Alfred Roberts (lab2doodle@…>)
I had two of my lenses replaced in my Lewmar hatches by Select Plastics and they came out great. You can find them on the web at www.selectplastics.com. They are a authorized Lewmar repair facility. Herman and Gail Schiller <hschiller2@…> wrote: Lexan (polycarbonate) is nearly bulletproof (very high strength), Plexiglass/Lucite (Acrylic) is more resistant to UV radiation (That’s why acrylic fabrics are used for covers, biminis, etc. Herm At 02:53 PM 4/7/2006, you wrote:>mark>the job is not that difficult. i replaced the lites on my 39>express several years ago. be aware that their are several kinds of>plastic available. there is lexan and acrylic,
one is much stronger>than the other and the other has a greater resistance to crazing or>fogging. honistly i forget which is which. whichever you use it is>very important to bed the materiel with the correct sealant. using>the wrong sealant will lead to cracking and failure. fourteen years>ago the yard replaced the port lites on my boat twice because they>used the wrong sealant the first time and within days the plastic>started to spiderweb all around the edges.— In>freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Mark Thompson” <methomp@…>>wrote:> >> > I started to replace the foggy windows of my 1988 F30. Upon>removing> > the first screw, water started streaming out. I am hoping that>this is> > a blessing and I can replace the window before any damage occurs.>Has> > anyone had any experience with this project? Maybe it
is too big>for> > me & I should bite the bullet and have the yard do it? “Say it>ain’t> > so!” If I can in fact do this myself, are there any recommendations> > that anyone could make to improve the job I will do? Are there any> > pitfalls I should watch out for? My boat is on the hard right now>in> > Grosse Pointe, MI. I think it is as good a time as any to tackle>this> > job. Any input would be appreciated. I will keep the community>updated> > on my experience, since so many of the F30s have the same foggy>windows.> > Mark Thompson> > Goombay Smash> >>>>>>>>>>Yahoo! Groups Links>>>>
Love cheap thrills? Enjoy PC-to-Phone calls to 30+ countries for just 2¢/min with Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.

Posted by mbb05055 (mbb05055@…>)

Hope you are getting further than I am in replacing foggy fixed ports
on F30 ('87) I have currently given up. Working with multiple
wedges, puttyknives, and screwdrivers last Fall I managed to get one
out after about two hours of judicious wiggling and prying. The
second one I worked on does not want to come out in any way, shape or
form. At least not if I want to get it out in one piece. Last Fall,
TP informed me that it is indeed 3M 5200. Have tried both Anti-bond
and Debond with no effect despite repeat applications. Furthermore the
frames holding the glazing are also full of 5300 and I doubt the
frames will be in good enough shape to re-use once disassembled.

Now I think I am going to re-install the one I removed and re-assess.
Since the goal is more light below, maybe I will cut them out next
fall and replace them entirely. Yikes!

Mary Bigelow
F30 Corydora
Belfast, ME

Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)

Mary,

I’m now restoring shine and transparency of my 25 yr old deck
hatches. I use a car rubbing/polishing compound and a polishing
machine with a coarse cotton and a sheepskin cloth around it. Works
perfect! If you have deep scratches, start with a rubbing compound
and end with a finer polishing compound. Don’t use thinner or
acetone!

Michel




— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “mbb05055” <mbb05055@…>
wrote:

Hope you are getting further than I am in replacing foggy fixed
ports
on F30 ('87) I have currently given up. Working with multiple
wedges, puttyknives, and screwdrivers last Fall I managed to get
one
out after about two hours of judicious wiggling and prying. The
second one I worked on does not want to come out in any way, shape
or
form. At least not if I want to get it out in one piece. Last
Fall,
TP informed me that it is indeed 3M 5200. Have tried both Anti-
bond
and Debond with no effect despite repeat applications. Furthermore
the
frames holding the glazing are also full of 5300 and I doubt the
frames will be in good enough shape to re-use once disassembled.

Now I think I am going to re-install the one I removed and re-
assess.
Since the goal is more light below, maybe I will cut them out next
fall and replace them entirely. Yikes!

Mary Bigelow
F30 Corydora
Belfast, ME

Posted by mbb05055 (mbb05055@…>)

Michael,
Yes, I will rub them down again; which helps in a big way. Just wish
they were clear glazing, not bronze.
I live in Maine; sun glasses my boat does not need.

If I replaced them I could get more light, and that would be really
nice…
I find the cabin awfully dark

Mary

Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)

My cabin is also very dark and I live in NW Europe. I am going to
paint all athwardships bulkheads white to lighten up the interior.

M

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “mbb05055” <mbb05055@…>
wrote:

Michael,
Yes, I will rub them down again; which helps in a big way. Just
wish
they were clear glazing, not bronze.
I live in Maine; sun glasses my boat does not need.

If I replaced them I could get more light, and that would be
really
nice…
I find the cabin awfully dark

Mary

Posted by Fargo Rousseau (fargo_r@…>)
Mary: Sounds horrible. We removed on fixed port last fall without such a struggle but don’t look forward to the others. We also removed and replace with new all of the Beckson opening ports. Installed them with recommended Dow Corning and they are tight and leak free now. By the way, we are sailing north from Palm Beach this week (and next and next), planning to return to Blue Hill, Maine. Do you know anybody who would like to charter a F30 this summer? We will be very busy with projects in Blue Hill. Fargo F30#12 NARISA mbb05055 <mbb05055@…> wrote: Hope you are getting further than I am in replacing foggy fixed ports on F30 ('87) I
have currently given up. Working with multiple wedges, puttyknives, and screwdrivers last Fall I managed to get one out after about two hours of judicious wiggling and prying. The second one I worked on does not want to come out in any way, shape or form. At least not if I want to get it out in one piece. Last Fall, TP informed me that it is indeed 3M 5200. Have tried both Anti-bond and Debond with no effect despite repeat applications. Furthermore the frames holding the glazing are also full of 5300 and I doubt the frames will be in good enough shape to re-use once disassembled.Now I think I am going to re-install the one I removed and re-assess.Since the goal is more light below, maybe I will cut them out next fall and replace them entirely. Yikes!Mary BigelowF30 CorydoraBelfast, ME

Posted by mbb05055 (mbb05055@…>)

Don’t know of someone wanting to charter off hand but will ask around.
About a half a dozen women sailors from Penobscot bay are getting
together a little later this month; they may have ideas.

Happy transit north.

Mary

Posted by Fargo Rousseau (fargo_r@…>)
Thank you, Mary. You can see our very slick F30 attached. Fargombb05055 <mbb05055@…> wrote: Don’t know of someone wanting to charter off hand but will ask around. About a half a dozen women sailors from Penobscot bay are getting together a little later this month; they may have ideas. Happy transit north. Mary
Attachment: (image/jpeg) Narisa launch.jpg [not stored]