T&T: Window Glass Adhesive

[Keith]

Sika has a good guide for direct glazing at:
http://www.sikaindustry.com/marine_direct_glazing_guidelines_aug_2004.pdf 
This includes installation guidelines and a chart to help you pick which of
their products should be used. They can be a bit hard to find. If you can't
find them locally, check out www.jamestowndistributors.com. 

Be sure to use setting blocks on the bottom. Strips of lead work best and
can be found at your local glass shop. If you can't find those, flexible
plastic, rubber, or the like can be used. Just don't set the edge of the
glass down on wood, metal or fiberglass. 



Keith
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-----Original Message-----

Subject: T&T: Window Glass Adhesive

Our Nova Scotia 47 has a black adhesive/sealant used to secure the vessel's
window glass onto the fiberglass superstructure.    It seems the original
adhesive/sealant is breaking down, possibly from UV attack.   The sealant
streaks black marks down the vessel side when washed, one small window
virtually fell out and some other windows appear they are headed the same
way. We believe the sealant used was 3M Black 5200.

We asked 3M which of their adhesives they would recommend for such an
application, they told us that window glass should not be glued in place but
should be held mechanically. 3M recommended their products should be used
for sealing only. We like the way our windows are attached with no window
frames or mechanical attachments to corrode or tarnish, we wonder if 3M are
just being conservative, However clearly the correct use of the right
adhesive sealant (and primer) is important or a dangerous situation might
develop in rough water conditions.



Does anyone have particular experience with securing glass windows onto
fiberglass please?