Need ideas please
Submitted by fords_rule85 on Mon, 2011-03-07 14:38
Hey guys, I've been doing some maintenance on my boat and am currently attempting to reseal the opening middle window on my trailcraft freestyle. For those not familiar with the setup, they have a swing opening middle window to reach through to the anchor well. The problem I have is it leaks through rather badly at the bottom of the window and wets everything I have at the front of the boat, does anyone have any ideas on how to reseal it? It used to have a foam strip at the bottom but wasn't very effective. Any ideas would be much appreciated, thanks.
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
Picture would be handy to see
Picture would be handy to see if there is an (easy) solution.
Having a guess based on my setup.
If there is a gap then a flat Aloy strip pop riveted to the bottom of the window together with a piece of fibreglass finnish strip (Clark rubber) should stop the water coming in.
And you be still able to get to the achor well by being able to operate the window.
I have my window open most of the time as it creates a nice breeze when warm on the water.
fords_rule85
Posts: 116
Date Joined: 05/03/09
Thanks for the info
Thanks for the info glastronomic, yeah I think the alloy strip ur talking about isn't on my boat maybe coz it's a earlier model (2000). That's not a bad idea but what is the fiberglass Finnish strip?? Never heard of it.
wazzbat
Posts: 977
Date Joined: 19/01/10
I know exactly what you are
I know exactly what you are talking about. Unfortunately it is one of a few little flaws on my Dad's Trailcraft. He has the 5.3m Freestyle around about the same year make. One of the handles on the window broke too. The rear door also leaks when drifting in average weather. But the thing that really pees me off with his boat is that the drivers seat can't swivel 360 degrees. You can only go so far one way before you hit the engine controls and so far the other way before you hit the steering wheel so you can't face the seat towards the back of the boat when you're fishing.
Anyway other than that it's been a pretty good boat and the best part is - I just use it but don't have to pay for it! I do help out with the maintenance, fuel etc though.
As for the window, glastronomic's idea isn't too bad but you have to be careful about drilling into the frame. It's not a very bulky frame from memory and when we fixed the handle, there wasn't much there to drill in to.
A simple idea might just be to stick a bit of foam back there on the dash (or on the bottom of the window frame?) and just use a towel or something up against the window when it's closed to stop any water running in. We haven't found it to be a real big issue for the amount of water that comes through under the window isn't all that much on Dad's boat.
Let us know what you do and how it goes. Good Luck.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
spanishmackeral
Posts: 940
Date Joined: 05/01/11
We just did the back door
We just did the back door seal on our trailcraft, rip the whole bit of rubber off and take it to Clarke rubber, they know exactly what it is.
glastronomic
Posts: 892
Date Joined: 16/02/11
Fibreglass finnish strip is a
Fibreglass finnish strip is a U shaped plastic strip with a metal barb inside it that is pressed over the edge of up to 4mm plastic/metal etc.
You can buy it at Clarckrubber by the meter.
Used as a finnish off product on fibbreglass/metal/plastic edges
fords_rule85
Posts: 116
Date Joined: 05/03/09
Good on ya boys, I will sort
Good on ya boys, I will sort it out somehow and post up how I went about it.