DIY: Replacing old portlights on a sailboat

[@XavierPil]

Nice! I did the exact same thing. The 709 application is super difficult. The trick is to NOT touch it once you remove the tape. For that I’d say you have to make sure you use just the right amount. BUt it is sooooo tempting to want to make it perfect that you can’t help but try to fix a little thing… and believe me it becomes a rabbit hole!!!

[@dogshark9]

Nice! Thanks for the detailed comments with product names. Will use this method on my boat.

[@VA7ACG]

Good job. Solid research and decision making. I am following the same track with my boat as we speak.

[@gustavocoimbradosreis4089]

Hi there! Thank you for your video. Very helpfull. How is it holding?

[@sailingcuddles2368]

Thank you, holding really well. No issues, no leaks. People stop by and say it looks nice and clean and good with tinted glass. Still trying to figure out the curtains on the inside

[@XavierPil]

Would you say your plexiglass stayed flat or did it have to bend/curve the surface of the boat? (Thanks for the awesome explanations)

[@tubular2006]

Am doing the same work on my boat. I ordered 1/8" plexi and now worried it might be too thin. Have you seen it done with 1/8?

[@joeball9104]

Question. On each side of the boat cabin, I have 5) 30 to 36 inch linear plexi sheets declining from 6.5 inches down to 2.75. The grade runs from the far end of the first to the far end of the last so that the 5 pieces make a pie shape set of windows 15 feet long. In between them currently is what looks like some type of hard sealant separator. It's charcoal gray, almost looks like grout for plexi windows. About to change them out. Picking up my plexi sheets tomorrow. Any thoughts on what the filler might be? Does that sound like anything you or anyone you know have encountered?

[@DD-lr6ne]

Check out Sika 295 UV. I like this stuff way better than any kind of silicone.

[@thayward65]

Is your portlights still holding up? I will be doing this to my boat

[@sailingcuddles2368]

Still good, no issues. Will use same material for companionway hatch and eventually replace all the hatch tops too. First, have to finish switching from diesel to electric motor

[@CaptainShack]

@@sailingcuddles2368 Hey! How well did the tape hold up now thats its been a few years? I'm starting to plan my own window upgrade and was basically planning the same process you went through.

[@MrPaulcoster94]

what are you using to clean with please ?

[@sailingcuddles2368]

clean which part? If you asking about cleaning the hull before applying tape, then acetone works great. As far as windows, just like a regular glass window, I just wipe stuff off with wet rag or paper towel or even use windex window cleaner. Most of the time I just dust off and use wet rag and its all clean.

[@MrPaulcoster94]

@@sailingcuddles2368 yes the hull , ive got sealant from before all over the place and its messy . cheers

[@sailingcuddles2368]

@@MrPaulcoster94 Ah I see. we had old sealant all dried out so we were able to scrape it off. We also used combination of goo off to soften some up and acetone after. The best thing that worked was that small detail triangular sander with small grit sand paper that removed all the sealant off the hull. It was a lot quicker than trying to scrape it off manually and use some kind of solvent. So I would use the sander, just be extra careful.

[@MrPaulcoster94]

Sailing Cuddles thank you for your help I was worried about taking off too jell coat so was going to paint an area just around window but that can look awful . I’ll try a very light sand paper . I think anything is better that how it looks now . I got some sort of deck wash in France it’s amazing . Thank you again my friend I appreciate your time