Posted by Max Lent (maxlent@…>)
Hi All,
Thank you all again for the great advice that you have provided. The
following is an update on my restoration of Top Cat.
Mast Rail
Thanks to the advice provided here, I bought a rivet tool and
discovered as predicted that the nose of the rivet tool would not
fit within the rail guides. Again, following advice provided here, I
bought a file and filed down the sides of the rivet gun nose so that
it would fit.
What didn’t work was the suggestion for drilling out the existing
rivets. Instead I used a punch and just pushed the broken rivets
through.
This was my first time using a pop rivet tool, so my success rate
with the rivets was about 50%. Eventually, I was able to glue the
rail to the mast and replace all of the broken rivets. What a
feeling of success.
Mast Light
Work in progress. I bought some three stranded wire from West Marine
and I am still contemplating how to relieve stress on wire that will
be hanging 36 feet from the top of the mast. I’m thinking that I
might make a coil and use plastic ties to attach the coil to the
radio antenna coaxial cable.
Windows
A friend of mine who is both a boat owner and a window installer
suggested using butyl tape to seal the wrap around Plexiglas to the
boat. Have you used this method? If not, what did you use to seal
your windows? I’ve heard many negative reports about using silicon
sealant.
Thank you again,
Max
Posted by Jake Kiehl (jake@…>)
I am also interested in hearing people’s advice on sealing the
Plexiglass windows. I have tried silicon sealant, and even with using
masking tape I am unsatisfied with the results. Only doomed to repeat
the same experience in a couple of years when it deteriorates. I’ve been
considering sealing from the inside, hoping the plexiglass will protect
from the UVs.
I’ve seen some boats (Blue Raven in person) have more traditional
port-hole windows. While my boat just has the wrap-around plexiglass
Max describes. As far as I know the plexiglass is factory installed.
Are the different windows aftermarket? Or just differences in model years?
Regards,
Jake
Max Lent wrote:
Hi All,
Thank you all again for the great advice that you have provided. The
following is an update on my restoration of Top Cat.
Mast Rail
Thanks to the advice provided here, I bought a rivet tool and
discovered as predicted that the nose of the rivet tool would not
fit within the rail guides. Again, following advice provided here, I
bought a file and filed down the sides of the rivet gun nose so that
it would fit.
What didn’t work was the suggestion for drilling out the existing
rivets. Instead I used a punch and just pushed the broken rivets
through.
This was my first time using a pop rivet tool, so my success rate
with the rivets was about 50%. Eventually, I was able to glue the
rail to the mast and replace all of the broken rivets. What a
feeling of success.
Mast Light
Work in progress. I bought some three stranded wire from West Marine
and I am still contemplating how to relieve stress on wire that will
be hanging 36 feet from the top of the mast. I’m thinking that I
might make a coil and use plastic ties to attach the coil to the
radio antenna coaxial cable.
Windows
A friend of mine who is both a boat owner and a window installer
suggested using butyl tape to seal the wrap around Plexiglas to the
boat. Have you used this method? If not, what did you use to seal
your windows? I’ve heard many negative reports about using silicon
sealant.
Thank you again,
Max
Posted by julius christensen (biff_sail@…>)
Jake’ I replaced my crazed windows with tinted plexiglass 15 years ago and I am very happy with the results.As Max said, any good shop can duplicate them using your old windows as a template.Jake Kiehl <jake@…> wrote: I am also interested in hearing people’s advice on sealing the Plexiglass windows. I have tried silicon sealant, and even with using masking tape I am unsatisfied with the results. Only doomed to repeat the same experience in a couple of years when it deteriorates.
I’ve been considering sealing from the inside, hoping the plexiglass will protect from the UVs.I’ve seen some boats (Blue Raven in person) have more traditional port-hole windows. While my boat just has the wrap-around plexiglass Max describes. As far as I know the plexiglass is factory installed. Are the different windows aftermarket? Or just differences in model years?Regards,JakeMax Lent wrote:> Hi All,>> Thank you all again for the great advice that you have provided. The> following is an update on my restoration of Top Cat.>> Mast Rail>> Thanks to the advice provided here, I bought a rivet tool and> discovered as predicted that the nose of the rivet tool would not> fit within the rail guides. Again, following advice provided here, I> bought a file and filed down the sides of the rivet gun nose so that> it would fit.>>
What didn’t work was the suggestion for drilling out the existing> rivets. Instead I used a punch and just pushed the broken rivets> through.>> This was my first time using a pop rivet tool, so my success rate> with the rivets was about 50%. Eventually, I was able to glue the> rail to the mast and replace all of the broken rivets. What a> feeling of success.>> Mast Light>> Work in progress. I bought some three stranded wire from West Marine> and I am still contemplating how to relieve stress on wire that will> be hanging 36 feet from the top of the mast. I’m thinking that I> might make a coil and use plastic ties to attach the coil to the> radio antenna coaxial cable.>> Windows>> A friend of mine who is both a boat owner and a window installer> suggested using butyl tape to seal the wrap around Plexiglas to the> boat. Have you
used this method? If not, what did you use to seal> your windows? I’ve heard many negative reports about using silicon> sealant.>> Thank you again,>> Max>>