Port side front window leaks on TomCat

J

John S

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Jul 5, 2006
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C Dory Year
2021
C Dory Model
255 Tomcat
Vessel Name
TomCat
Ok, here's another one of my problems I found during my pre-buy check out. The window leaks when it rains or from spray. I runs down the front from the window and drips on to the mattress up front.

What is the best way to fix this short of removing the window? I bought some clear silicone sealant and some black silicone sealant. First I was hoping for some opinions.

Thanks again,
John
 
Sounds to me you are on track. I also notice that I was getting water in the forward sponson department with a lot of rain....or real ruff water conditions. Not enought to stop the show...but a bit of a pain with no bilge pums at the aft edge of the forward sponson section. Big ol sponge and/or wet vac worked best. Was told from another owner they applied this same clear silicone around the top edge of the rub rail, and it fixed this issue too. I never did that prior to selling my TC24, but did bring it up with the new owners....who...also at this point have not done it... Not really a large deal, but I like dry spots dry... and think at some point I would have added the forward bilge pumps anyway for just convienence sake. Busted a 3 liter coke bottle under there one time.... it is amazing how large 3 liters is when it is in the wrong place. Just running the wash down hose and flipping the bilge button would have been much....much easier.
 
Water came in my port side widow too, when I accidently left it open during washdown. Lots of extra work cleaning that one up.

Seriously, water hasn't come in my window frame seal or glass gasket, but it did leak in through the holes drilled through the deck for the hand rails forward. The plastic had not been removed from the flange bottoms and the 5200 couldn't seal properly.

My inclination has always been to go all the way to the source of the problem to fix it. I don't know exactly how those windows are installed, but I'd rather remove, repair and reinstall if possible. I'll look at mine more closely this morning.

Bob Cat
 
Thanks for the input guys. I'm not ready to pull the window out yet. I haven't made a single trip in the boat yet. So I really think I at least need a temporary fix. Has anyone successfully used the silicone on the windows without making an ugly mess?

Thanks,
John
 
Are you talking about the side window on the port side, or the windshield on the port side?
Is it leaking in under the frame, or is water that sets in the window after rain or wash, leaking in between the glass and the rubber gasketing that holds the glass?
 
It is the windshield that is leaking. It is not obvious where it is coming from. It seems to come from around the frame near the center of the bottom of the window, it streams down the front of the cabin and then drips on the bed.
 
Scrub the area around the window really good, wipe it down after with a little laquer thinner on a cloth(damp not dripping). Mask off the edge of the frame(where the face meets the edge), and mask around the window about 1/16 to 1/8 inch onto the fiberglass. By a tube of 4200 and caulk around the window. Work the sealant into the grove where the frame meets the fiberglass. When you have finished working and smoothing the sealant, remove the tape.
I sealed the top of the rub rail this same way. You end up with a nice neat line where the tape wasn't. The side of the boat would get dark streaks running down from the bottm of the rub rail, from rain and dirt etc. getting under the rail. This has pretty much stopped it.

If the water is getting in between the glass and the rubber gasket. you'll have to try something else. I may have an idea for that to.
 
Ok,

So here is what I did and what I found.

Upon closer inspection I found that both the port and starboard front windows black rubber seals had pulled away in one of the bottom corners. I took the tape advice, (which worked well) and taped off the suspect area for a clean seal. I then waited for two days of sun to hit the window. I cleaned the area well and stuck the tip of my black silicone tube down into the hole and squeezed until silicone pressured out the top. I worked my way around both pulled corners and after going for some rough weather rides have found the (temporary) repairs effective.

Now.....a small leak from the center window is showing itself. We did a lot of boating in the rain over the last week and found that water actually pools in the center windows bottom seal area. Has anyone drilled several small holes in the frame externally to drain this area????? Has anyone else noticed the pooling of water on this bottom, center window.

Thanks,
John
 
Just wanted to post our final solution to this problem.

This spring I ordered a new one piece window and frame for the center position and new glass for both the side windshields for around $1000. I ordered them from the original manufacturer who made the glass for C-Dory and they still had all the dimensions. They had good advice on their website on how to properly install and seal the windows. The customer service guy even sent me a video on how to install the rubber seal and YES it is really tricky.

Kim at Diamond Sea Glaze told me that they adamantly told C-Dory that it was a mistake to install a sliding window in the center position windshield on the Tomcat TC24 (It leans back) He said they insisted on doing it anyway.

The reason I had to replace the other two windshields is that C-Dory chose to install my windshields with FULL TINT. At dusk I would have to drive my boat with my head stuck out the window to watch for floating ice and logs, even though the light was plenty sufficient for seeing with a window open, it was like pitch black thru the tinted windshield.

I'm not sure how I was the lucky one to end up with tinted windshields, but the other Tomcat TC24's I've checked ended up with clear glass.

NOTHING leaks on our windows anymore and we can see. We even added a windshield wiper to the center window to increase visibility even further.

Just wanted to pass along our experience.
 
Tagged for reference. Urggg, our front center window leaks badly and I need a solution. Hopefully I will be able to make our existing work without having to resort to a new fixed center pane.
 
It's been 5 years since that post and I haven't had window problems ever since Diamond Seaglaze was great to work with and even had the technical drawings on hand for our windows.
Replace the C-Dory mistake and dry up your boat!
 
John S":cecfloa6 said:
It's been 5 years since that post and I haven't had window problems ever since Diamond Seaglaze was great to work with and even had the technical drawings on hand for our windows.
Replace the C-Dory mistake and dry up your boat!
Click to expand...

Hi John

Yes, I am in the situation where I am ready to try anything to fix that front window leak. I have a few potential solutions to try and short of them working, will order a new fixed front window from Diamond Sea Glaze. Hope to not need to go that route as it is nice to have an opening front window.

Anyhow, did you include a write up on the process of window replacement. I looked and did not find it anywhere.
 
Thanks for bringing up the thread again for newer TC 24 owners. I wonder if there was a re-design of the front opening window which would be better?--even going to a fiberglass piece athwart ships, and a second opening window below or above? One pane fixed glass, the other opening, as in the 22/24/255?

When I heard about the opening window it sounded great--but with a leak--not so good!
 
...they adamantly told C-Dory that it was a mistake to install a sliding window in the center position windshield on the Tomcat TC24 (It leans back) He said they insisted on doing it anyway.
Click to expand...

From looking at Bryan's boat at La Connor, that was my exact first thought. The slider in the middle was the cause of the water leakage issue he was having. If it was me, I'd eliminate it all together and install a solid window there. Dryness vs air flow while under way; dryness wins, espcially our bedding. I felt for Sun when she was trying to dry the bedding. We never open the center window while underway and at achor/dock, we have the V-berth hatch for air.
 
localboy":1fsrnajy said:
...they adamantly told C-Dory that it was a mistake to install a sliding window in the center position windshield on the Tomcat TC24 (It leans back) He said they insisted on doing it anyway.
Click to expand...

From looking at Bryan's boat at La Connor, that was my exact first thought. The slider in the middle was the cause of the water leakage issue he was having. If it was me, I'd eliminate it all together and install a solid window there. Dryness vs air flow while under way; dryness wins, espcially our bedding. I felt for Sun when she was trying to dry the bedding. We never open the center window while underway and at achor/dock, we have the V-berth hatch for air.
Click to expand...




Yeah, if I can seal up the center window in a way that water no longer comes in, I will do so. I will also seal up the existing window in a way that it no longer opens if that is what it takes. If all efforts fail, I will change the window. Right now, I have other items which I would rather spend money toward (downriggers and camperback). Keeping the interior dry while underway seems like it should be more of a priority though and I dont need to ask my wife which is more important.

Our recent trip to LaConner, we encountered a rough stretch for about 1.5 hours where we took somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 gallons of water into the cabin. Fortunately, most of it ended up on the bed and bedding :(

I must say that having that front opening window is nice for those times when im up at the bow and want to talk or pass something through to the occupants inside the cabin.

If any Tomcat 24 owners with a leaking sliding window can comment on how they dealt with this, I would be most appreciative to hear your solutions.
 
redbaronace":5tk87ht9 said:
Anyhow, did you include a write up on the process of window replacement. I looked and did not find it anywhere.
Click to expand...

Diamond Seaglaze guided me through the whole installation process. If I remember right the gentleman that helped me there was named Kim pretty sure they provided me some instructions too.
Only glitch was I had to make part of the opening In my boat slightly bigger on one side. Jigsaw did the trick for that.
With the new center window I then added a windshield wiper. Replacing the center window required a new frame and window, while I was at it I replaced the glass only on the other two windshields to get rid of the tinted glass. I don't have to stick my head out the window to see in low light conditions anymore.
 
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