[MHml] Window instlilation

[allied]

A few weeks ago I asked about putting replacement plastic windows into my boat and got a lot of good feedback, so I think it important that I give feedback, as to my results.
I had decided that the most expensive, must be the best and went to buy my Sikaflex at NZ$ 29 per tube. Just before I parted with my money I read a pamphlet next to the product and for the first time, saw that it was not recommended, unless covered from UV, by addition of some tape, on the outside of the window. This may be just New Zealand, because we suffer from very high UV, but I kept my money and looked at other products.
I decided on Dow Corning 795, NZ $11, which gves a UV rating of more years than the plastic will last and is used on high rise windows, so obviously does not fall out easily. It does not need any primers on the plastic, or on any really clean surface, you just peel off the paper and put the plastic in place. I did a test peace first and had trouble unsticking it, the rubber seems more breakable than the joint.
I followed good instuctions from Ashley Holiday, from this site (though he used 791) and my double sided glazing tape was 8 mm thick, which gives a thicker joint and more flexibility. I painted the frames inside first and now have a perfect layer of black foam, between the frame and the plastic window. I put packers at the edges to give an even thickness of joint and used temporary screwed clamps, to hold the windows in place, while drying. On flat surfaces this would not be necessary as the glazing tape sticks like the proverbial to the blanket. It is important to use plenty of goo, so that no internal voids are left, as these will show. Voids at the edges and left by packers can be filled later. I intend to put a fillet in, at the end of my work, to finish the edges. The product works easily and can be wiped on, or cut off, with a sharp tool. It cures inwards at 1 mm per day and I have been told by the rep. that even large areas, will eventually cure and provide no problem.
I was surprised how clean the job is, properly prepared with masking and the use of a spatula, to spread the goo, to an even cover and thickness, there is no need for any goo on hands etc. It works without skinning for at least 10 minutes (my approx time to gun and spread out. Clean up of spills is easy the next day while still soft, just a wipe, or scrape off. 
The result is spectacular, a wrap of tinted window, with almost invisible joints, around the boat, in place of screws, covered by framing, a new boat, from a new generation.
Thanks for all the suggestions, by thinking about them all, the result I have achieved is better than I ever thought it would be.
Regards, Colin
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://steamradio.com/pipermail/multihulls/attachments/20041204/45636b4a/attachment.htm