Land N Sea Windows - Part I

All the windows on my '72 leak. It's not my intention to bring Big Duck back to her original state, but rather to make her comfortable and reliable. As she sits on her trailer today, she is quite acceptable despite the the intruding water...it's a mere inconvenience for the delight she provides on the water and on the road (on the trailer) in WalMart parking lots and Rest Areas on her way to distant lakes and rivers.

But, given that I'm retired, having time on my hands and having been accused of always looking for a better way, I'm destined to see if the leaky windows can be corrected. I pulled a small window in the galley today, to see how it's installed, sealed and what parts I'd need to make it better.

What I've learned so far, is that Big Duck's windows are secured by a simple clamping ring inside, and that in removing that ring some of the stainless screws are bound to break off at the head.

That the window is installed in a 2" wall, a sandwich of 1/4" of glass (outside), foam, and 3/8" of glass (inside). What a great way to incorporate positive floatation in a sound, light structure. 

Also, that the windows - at least the one I removed, is sealed by glazing putty - the kind you'd use on your house windows.

As of yet, I haven't decided what the best sealing approach will be, but I do know that:
a) the glazing putty is having trouble keeping the water out
b) the material that keeps the sliding pane in place is totally deteriorated
c) removing the glass from the frame can be complicated

More to come as I further indulge.