Windshield seal; Ocean Alexander

My early 90's OA just developed a tiny leak in the seal that beds the windshield glass to the aluminum frame. I stopped the leak with some sealant/adhesive, but think it's time for new seals. Looks like all OA models from that era use the same arrangement. Anyone locate a source for the rubber seal? Anyone tried doing the job themselves? Looks like the assembly is held in by a gazillion perimeter screws, which when removed allow for the glass plus seal to be lifted out of the aluminum frame. Is that correct? Thanks.

Wish I knew the answer. I have rebuilt the port lights but not the windshield.

I called the Ocean Alexander parts/service folks in Seattle and they put me in touch with the local glass shop that does all their OA glass work. Sent him some photos last week and will call him on Monday. Will post what I learn at that time. By the way, all the windows (side, rear and doors) from the late 80's and 90's use exactly the same frame and mounting system as for the windscreens. It looks like a fairly easy job, although it would take two sets of hands for the large panes in the windscreen. Fortunately, the aluminum frames appear to be leak free and still well bonded to the hull structure.

Regards

Greetings,
Mr. R. (from another "R")...I know nothing about your windows or their repair BUT I wish to commend those manufacturers of boats boating equipment AND general consumer goods that have the wherewithal to produce things that can actually be repaired rather than simply replaced.

Repair may be complicated and may need a "third" hand but can be accomplished. I'm sure we've all experienced a failure of some item that required destruction of some critical glued joinery that made reassembly impossible even if a repair of internal parts had been effected.

'nuff said...

I am curious who the glass shop is. I keep my OA just 4 miles from Ocean Alexander Marine. It's probably someone I know.

RT Helps when the boat manufacturer is still in business after all these years....and that they care enough about their legacy to help owners of older boats find things even if they don't stock the part. A huge advantage of OA over some other makes. A few years ago I was looking for the exact color of the gelcoat used on our boat. I contacted the Seattle OA yard and they forwarded my question to the factory in Taiwan. I got a response back directly from Johnny Chueh, the son of Alexander Chueh...the company founder. Well punch my eyes out...I'd seen it all. He provided the color, and the gelcoat manufacturer, plus background regarding the manufacturing process for the diamond pattern non-skid where I had a problem with gel-coat chalking (after25 years). Great company...great boats.

Tiltrider I believe the shop is called QA Glass (at least that's their email name). Their OA specialist is Mike at 206-369-7545 . The Ocean Alexander gent who helped me is Kevin at 206 397 4377.

Greetings,
Mr. R. It does indeed help, big time, that the company is still in business and supports their "heritage" equipment. My point was simply that even though it is probably more expensive to manufacture a "component" that is able to be serviced those companies that do so are to be commended.

I just spoke with the glass specialist used by OA in Seattle. He says he's probably done about a hundred boats with the frame arrangement in 80's 90's boats. I asked him if he has a part number for the old seals. Nope, he pulls out the old seals and puts a modern adhesive/sealant in the gap. He does not remove the outer trim/metal seal carrier (the ones with all the screws). In fact he says don't do it, as it's likely to create leaks in the bedding between the aluminum frame and the fiberglass structure.

Mike recommends Sikaflex C95UV as a sealant. The joint must be ultra clean, and there's another prep/activator chemical that goes with the adhesive. Mike says buy or rent a power caulking gun as bubbles in the bead will ruin the job. Create the edge of the bead with a finger. That's the long and short of it. About a $5-6000 job via Ocean Alexander per Mike. (Gulp). I'm still looking for the rubber seal...managed to tease an end from under one of the side windows and have a photo if anyone is interested. I suspect it's probably available (but not from OA).

Nice guy, very helpful and experienced. I'll give him a plug with the OA yard tomorrow.

Just had a transient OA pull into slip next to us. Turns out that the owner replaced all glass seals a couple of years ago, and purchased new ones from Ocean Alexander Seattle. So I called Kevin back, and once we got our terminology straight, turns out he does have the seal strips that lay against the glass...think they're call glass trim. $1.75/foot. The guy on the boat next door says it snaps into place under the frame piece...no need to remove all those screws.

If by chance its actually the frame, check out Capt Tolly's crack cure and seal