Leaking windows?

Have you diagnosed exactly where they are leaking? Be sure the sills outside are not holding any water. The scuppers can be clogged. My sills were made of mahogany and were wet too long before I bought the boat. Had to pull the windows, replace the sills and window tracks. Painted them with Awlgrip and sealed the forward windows in with silicone. My windows don't leak and still can slide open like original. Big job to pull the glass but the task has been documented somewhere on this forum.

If you are talking about the fixed side salon windows check the inside wood plate and channel. It may be dried out. Several linseed oil applications will expand that joint.

Obviously you've check the out side seal and found it intact?

I had that same problem on my 1998 and solved it with linseed oil after I let the wood dry. I have the theory that the constant sun dries that wood out. My "home repair" has lasted several years now. The wood plate and channel was originally painted, but that all sloughed off due to the water and I have mostly bare wood showing now. I cleaned it up and applied the oil as an experiment. - and for one of the few times for me my experiment worked.

The linseed oil on the outside wood frame makes 110% sense as Beau suggests. That is the best way to protect / preserve old sun dried wood. Absolutely worth a cost effective try. Make a few applications let it soak in.

My theory is that the linseed oil applied to the inside channel re-expands that wooden joint snugging the glass against the outside gasket. That prevents the water coming off the hardtop and cabin from penetrating the outside gasket along the bottom of the window sets??

Linseed oil in and of itself waterproofs the wood as it dries in it like a waxy substance. Sort of like the stuff you put on Bimini tops (waterproofing agent)

Agreed, Lineed oil is a type of water resistance for wood, but I also think when it is absorbed it helps replenish the dried wood so it expands and provides some hydraulic pressure to the outside gasket - otherwise where is that outside water going? We are not talking about a "visible "gap" in the outside gasket, just less efficiency in keeping the outside water on the outside ( there is really no explanation for this to be water from inside the cabin IMO). I have been very careful to watch for the water to appear in other adjacent areas and it hasn't. So I do not believe the linseed oil is just helping to shed water, it's providing some structure??

I had the same problem on my 1999 42 ' post last year. I had to have the glass pulled (aft starboard side), the old sealant removed and the glass re-seated and sealed. I tried a number of different "fixes" before doing this work last spring. The cause was the primer on the edges glass itself de-laminating from the glass. Glass was re-primed with Sika Flex 295 UV sealant/primer and we installed 1/4" x 1/2" neoprene on the teak window frame.

The cast was a little over $800.00. I no longer have the leak or the wet carpet.

I had the Caulk removed from the other three panels that were still well adhered and cleaned and resealed with Sika Flex 296.

The cost was about $800.00 . I see you are in Long Port NJ my work was done up in Manasquan and have the contact for the guy who did the work. He did a very good job.

Hopefully the OP Jerry will have some luck with the linseed oil. Certainly worth a try.

Capt. J -
What is the waterproofing agent brand you have had the most success with on Bimini tops?
Thx

I just did just confirm you received.

The white dried out material for me was the sloughed paint. I clean all of that out. Let the wood thoroughly dry and then applied 4 coats of linseed oil - still dry after about 4 years something like that.

I would get it dry first otherwise you just seal the water in. Can you use a hair dryer on low heat to help it along. Put fans by each window so you have an air flow down along those plates? Are you shrink wrapped?