About stuck windows

[pcator]

I too have a stuck window. Would spraying around the edge of the window with whatever do any good getting it unstuck? It seems the other threads deal with a sticky window that can be moved. I can't move this one.

Patrick

[Captains Cat]

Patrick, in order to spray, first you've gotta move it and open it. Try a little prying action. Put a screwdriver blade between the latch and the frame where the lifting latch is and pry GENTLY. It will move, mine sticks all the time and moves every time. Then you can spray, silicone works good for me.

Don't pry hard or roughly, it's a casting, I think, and will break if you're not careful..

Charlie

[Zydecomo]

I used "Liquid Rollers" a spray available at West, Cabelas and other marine suppliers. I had a similar problem on my Tom Cat. First I power washed the window channel then when dried I sprayed the upper and lower track and the "felt" like material with the Liquid Rollers. I think the Liquid Rollers is basically silicon but it seems to last longer than other sprays I've used.

[captd]

Pcator,
If all else fails,.... I found this out the hard way.......Push the window forward first. Then squeeze the latch, then pull back.
captd

[drjohn71a]

Hey there.... I suffered the stuck window syndrome on my new TomCat last week from the get go. I found that using a gentle pry with a 5/8 inch thick West Marine knife handle with a "lifting action" on the bottom of the latch could open the window.

Tom at West Marine in Edmonds, advised I use the spray lubricant developed by Boeing - "BoeShield T-9" on the channels. I sprayed the channels and now you can slide the windows shut or open like sliding a cold beer down the bar - just one flip and the pane slides all the way shut or open. I also used this on the door latch mechanism. Tom warned not to use this spray on electrical or close fitting metal parts since it does leave a protective coating with some thickness.

John

[pcator]

I got the window unstuck. Thanks to all of you.

Patrick

[SEA3PO]

I gotta tell you that BoShield stuff really works.... just like greasing a pig...

Joel
SEA3PO

[lloyds]

The thing I liked about Boe-Shield was how well it cleaned corrosion and extra lubricants off of metal parts, like rudder shafts on sailboats.

[timflan]

I had a stuck window, and it would NOT open. The latch would pivot just fine, and if I looked very close I could see that the window would slide back and forth about 1 mm, but wouldn't open, which seemed really weird. It was as if something were obstructing the window, as you would expect a latch to, but the latch appears to disengage fully.

Today I verified that the glass slides up and down slightly in the track, as you would expect; it slides up and down at the rear, and even in the front, although it takes a bit more effort. So the window is free to move around. Yet it won't open.

I got it open, and here's how: I ran a length of cord (1/8" braid) underneath the pivoting latch. Both ends of the cord were attached to a handle (it just happened to be a folding knife, and this cord was the lanyard). I pulled, which also lifts the latch away from its engaged position. Nothing happened. I gave it a sharp tug, and it came open, neat as you please.

My theory is that part of the latch/handle casting (not the moving part...the part that's fixed to the glass) becomes jammed in the track if you slam the window. I slammed the window to see, and it got stuck again, but now I knew what to do.

So don't slam your windows, OK? If you do, find a length of sturdy (but not larger than 1/8" diameter cord, and a handle you can tug on hard.

[Sea Wolf]

Here's a diagram of the situation and a way to add a rubber "bumper" to prevent slamming them so hard they stick! (From the Cabin photos.)



Joe.