Stuck Windows on 25

M

milderd1910

New member
My windows are stuck. Very hard to open or close. I have cleaned the tracks and still no luck. The fuzzy window stuff is causing the windows to stick. I have tried every thing, pressure washing and vasaline and still no luck. I was thinking about removing the fuzzy stuff and using Teflon strips for my windows. It might not be water tight, but I will be able to open my windows without a screw driver to pry them open.
 
Do not use "Vasaline". it will attract dirt, and may degrade the "fuzzy" stuff. The material to use is the "liquid Rollers" by Mary Kate. There are any number of other dry silicone sprays.

At this point, I would soak the strips with dawn and perhaps a ZEP degreaser to get the Vasaline out and free up any dirt. Pressure washing can be used, but it must be used judiciously to avoid damage to the track etc. I just use the hose with a fine nozzle on it. Also be sure that all of the drains are working--they have a small metal piece riveted over the outside. You may need to work a piece of trimmer "string" thru them.

I carry a very small pry bar to get "stuck" windows started. Pry between the frame and the metal of the handle, very gently. I would dry and push it forward first--you might even use some light taps with a rubber mallet, transmitting the light blow with round punch. Just very gently in any of these. You don't want to damage the glass, frame or the handle. One of the folks on our recent Tennessee river cruise had this problem. The small pry bar solved it in about 30 seconds.

After the window is back, then get in there with a toothbrush, and soap (Dawn) and warm water. Get the fuzzy stuff clean. It can be replaced--but in most boats it can be rehabbed.
 
Dr. Bob sums it up quite nicely. It is very frustrating to both my wife and I with this same issue. This same problem occurs after we wash our boat and let it air dry with the side windows in the fully closed and locked position. We then cannot open the side windows in the cabin without having to fully pull on the latch with our fingers and with all our might. Very frustrating indeed! When the window finally gives in and opens, we nearly fall to the ground with the release of the opposing force. We have found that if we open the window from the tab lock on the window frame just a bit from the fully locked position after washing the boat and then let it air dry, (slightly ajar open) we can open the windows easily afterward once the boat is dry, without having to pull the latch with this extreme effort.
Thanks Dr. Bob for the advise of the Silicone spray. Good advice. Gary.
 
You can get these window grippers at Harbor Freight and other places. Easy to yank open a window without the possibility of chipping an edge. One of my sliding windows broke, but my window tracks were full of grit that I took both windows out. It requires fiddling around with a brown snap-in track top and bottom. I then used carpet cleaner of the fuzzy strips and a shop vac on the track. When dry, I poured Dupont Dry Lubricant (Teflon) on the fuzzy strip.

The tedious part was putting the plastic strips back in. I kept trying until each piece popped back into place, but every time it did I didn't know what I had done right and then had to fiddle around for 5 minutes with the next piece.

The suction handle can also be helpful if you need to grab onto the side of the boat when in the dinghy.

https://www.harborfreight.com/dual-cup- ... 46134.html

Mark
 
The suction handle can also be helpful if you need to grab onto the side of the boat when in the dinghy.
Click to expand...

I wonder how the harbor freight for $8 compare with the "SeaSucker" handles for $99? For $8 I'll have to try one of those. Another place where the suction handles are very handy is on top of the motor as a grip when coming aboard via the swim step.

To clarify, never pry against the glass, only the metal handle, and it does not take much force to move the widow with a pry bar. Be sure and push the "latch" in before you attempt to move the window--with either by hand, with a handle or pry bar.
 
I noticed at the end of this season, as I as preparing to cover the boat that the windows were getting a bit harder to move, so with Bob’s reminder today, I got out the liquid roller & now smooth as can be. One more thing I won’t have to attend to in the spring .

Jay
 
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