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jacuthbert
Joined: 23 Jan 2010 Posts: 117 City/Region: Vail
State or Province: AZ
C-Dory Year: 2009
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Pohaku
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 8:51 am Post subject: struggling with cabin windows |
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Hello out there...
I am having quite a struggle when I try to open my 2 large cabin windows. They just don't slide easily. I know they need to be snug so that they are waterproof, but it takes both hands and a standing or kneeling position to get them open. I thought about rubbing soap on the brush inside the window frame, but I am reluctant...certainly WD40 is not a good idea either. Has anyone else run into this problem? any solutions?
Thanks in advance.
Amanda |
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JamesTXSD
Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Posts: 7445 City/Region: from island boy to desert dweller
State or Province: AZ
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: "Wild Blue" (sold 9/14)
Photos: Wild Blue
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 8:54 am Post subject: |
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Liquid Rollers is what we use to keep the windows moving easily. Clean the track top and bottom with some vinegar water, rinse with fresh water, let that dry, they spray on the Liquid Rollers (it's in an aerosol can).
Best wishes,
Jim B. _________________ Jim & Joan
CD-25 "Wild Blue" (sold August 2014)
http://captnjim.blogspot.com/
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drjohn71a
Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 1820 City/Region: Wichita
State or Province: KS
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Tom-a-Hawk
Photos: Tom-a-Hawk
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:16 am Post subject: |
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The amount of debris that can harden in those window channels is amazing.
I use a weak power spray heavily on those channels when washing the boat and spray up from the bottom of those drainage openings on the lower channel. It takes minutes to get that debris up and out from each area, so take your time.
Years ago they recommended a special "Boeing" lube spray and I used that but it also gelled up over time.
Whether it is saltwater or fine dust, lots of things can get into that channel and set up.
I will try Jim's Liquid Roller, but just keeping them really clean helps a good bit.
The problem with any lubricant is that it attracts dust over time. Much of the old farm equipment had open gears and recommended no grease since the abrasion from the dust stuck to the grease would wear the gears out rapidly.
John |
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matt_unique
Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Posts: 1881 City/Region: Boston
State or Province: MA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Napoleon
Photos: Napoleon
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:31 am Post subject: WD-40 |
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I use nothing but WD-40 to keep Napoleon's windows opening easily. About twice a season when they start to feel a bit snug I spray around the frame, open and close a few times, and voila. _________________ Captain Matt
Former owner of Napoleon (Tomcat) Hull #65 w/Counter Rotating Suzuki 150's. |
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Wandering Sagebrush
Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 2770 City/Region: Northeast Oregon
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Constant Craving
Photos: Constant Craving
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:47 am Post subject: |
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We use Liquid Rollers as well. It works nicely. _________________ "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." - Abraham Lincoln |
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Pat Anderson
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 8553 City/Region: Birch Bay, WA
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Daydream
Photos: Daydream and Crabby Lou
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:57 am Post subject: |
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Where do you get Liquid Rollers? Is it a garden-variety hardware store item?
Another thing, you have to unlatch the windows before you can slide them open, which involves pushing the latch lever toward the window, then pushing FORWARD to get the part the hooks behind the frame disengaged before trying to slide the whole shebang open. It is easier to describe than to do. But these windows are and always have been one of our gripes. They put a man on the moon, you would think they could make a sliding side window for a boat that opens easily. _________________
DAYDREAM - CD25 Cruiser
CRABBY LOU - CD16 Angler (sold 2020)
Pat & Patty Anderson, C-Brat #62!
http://daydreamsloop.blogspot.com
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lloyds
Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 1724 City/Region: sublimity
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 1996
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: undecided
Photos: 1996 22 Cruiser (Lloyds)
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 11:01 am Post subject: |
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You can get it at West Marine. |
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thataway
Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 20815 City/Region: Pensacola
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: thataway
Photos: Thataway
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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Liquid rollers is just a dry silicone spray--others are 3M, LiquiQuick, Kiwi Camp, 3 in 1, etc. Most big box stores will have one of these in the lubricant department. WD 40 is basically a light oil, and it does leave a sticky residue--that is why I prefer the dry silicones. _________________ Bob Austin
Thataway
Thataway (Ex Seaweed) 2007 25 C Dory May 2018 to Oct. 2021
Thisaway 2006 22' CDory November 2011 to May 2018
Caracal 18 140 Suzuki 2007 to present
Thataway TomCat 255 150 Suzukis June 2006 thru August 2011
C Pelican; 1992, 22 Cruiser, 2002 thru 2006
Frequent Sea; 2003 C D 25, 2007 thru 2009
KA6PKB
Home port: Pensacola FL |
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localboy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006 Posts: 4656 City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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In reference to the cleaning of the tracks, I'd have to agree. I've used a power washer and was amazed at the crap that washed out of the tracks/felt. Of course most of it was GREEN MILDEW, the prevalent "crop" of Wa. State. _________________ "We can go over there...behind the 'little one'....."
Wife to her husband pointing @ us...from the bow of their 50-footer; Prideaux Haven 2013 |
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Alok
Joined: 19 Mar 2005 Posts: 291 City/Region: League City
State or Province: TX
Photos: Top Cat
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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What Pat said: Push the window hard towards the "closed" direction before pulling in the "open" direction. You will be surprised by how much difference this makes.
I also use Liquid Rollers. _________________ Alok
C-Dory Tomcat (Topcat) sold January 2012 |
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hardee
Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 12633 City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sleepy-C
Photos: SleepyC
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Posted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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Amanda:
What Alok said!
Quote: | "What Pat said: Push the window hard towards the "closed" direction before pulling in the "open" direction. You will be surprised by how much difference this makes.
I also use Liquid Rollers.
________________
Alok" |
Both of those points have made a big difference on the SleepyC. Cleaning the tracks is a very good point too. Our worst offender is the dried salt spray, but I make sure that the channels get rinsed very thoroughly after each time on the water.
The "Liquid Rollers" is available via West Marine, and it last pretty long. I spray the track in the spring, and maybe once way later mid season or so, and with the "Push forward " trick, the windows are pretty easy to work.
Good Luck.
Harvey
SleepyC
What else gets into the tracks? Seagull bombs
_________________ Though in our sleep we are not conscious of our activity or surroundings, we should not, in our wakefulness, be unconscious of our sleep. |
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jacuthbert
Joined: 23 Jan 2010 Posts: 117 City/Region: Vail
State or Province: AZ
C-Dory Year: 2009
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Pohaku
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Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 8:37 am Post subject: sticky windows |
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It is always nice to know I'm not the only person in the universe experiencing a particular problem! Great suggestions and I will get after the cleaning, opening the latch properly and silicone slidy stuff. Gracias!
Amanda |
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hardee
Joined: 30 Oct 2006 Posts: 12633 City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sleepy-C
Photos: SleepyC
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Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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Amanda,
Again, isn't this site great. It is not just a boat, it is a whole family.
Harvey
SleepyC |
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Chester
Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Posts: 1176 City/Region: home
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sold to lovely couple
Photos: Chester
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Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 5:48 am Post subject: |
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Push foreward; Check
Silicone spray; Check.
Clean window tracks; OK, I'll put more effort into that.
Hello, Harvey. Say hi to Deena for Adrienne and myself.
We missed you at the September Sequim CBGT 'cause we were intimidated by stories of crossing the strait and getting green water over the bow.
Turns out the weather was well behaved the entire weekend.
This year our C-Dory cruising will be curtailed as we are going to burn two weeks of my vacation time with a Greecian cruise. As cool as that may be I'd rather sail the Salish Sea in our little cockle shell and see friends. |
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drjohn71a
Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 1820 City/Region: Wichita
State or Province: KS
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 255 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Tom-a-Hawk
Photos: Tom-a-Hawk
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Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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I'm feeling a little "deja vu" in that we seemed to have traveled this topic route a year or so back, but...
I agree with the notion that being able to move the window a bit in a direction other than the desired, blocked direction will often dislodge the blockage and allow opening.
With the warning to do so judiciously, I am sharing the best way I've found to quickly dislodge the stuck C-Dory sliding windows:
I had purchased one of those royal blue emergency knife things from West Marine which had a thickness of about 9/16 th of an inch which fit perfectly at an angle engaging the lower edge of the window latch and the upper area of the front channel. This allows a kind of "lifting" effect when one gently pries up and back on the window latch which lifts the window out of the bottom channel a bit and it usually just opens easily after that.
I am thinking that whatever the fibers, or bits of debris in the channel (I actually think those fuzzy sliding cushions get a 'set' to them that works against opening) get a 'set' where they are angling against any horizontal opening movement. Maybe when the window is slid shut, all the tiny hairs an debris just line up so that they oppose any reverse movement?
So, a bit of 1 x 2 wood or a knife handle judiciously used to "lift" the front window section will often pop the window loose rapidly.
John |
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