Lee, Lastochka, #273

I bought some 1/4" weatherstripping for my windows about a year ago from Roger Winiarski at Bristol Bronze. Seems like it was on the order of one dollar a foot.

Contact: Roger Winiarski <mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.> - President Telephone: 401-625-5224 FAX: 401-624-3991 Postal address: PO Box 101, Tiverton, RI 02878, USA Electronic mail: General Information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Sales: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Customer Support: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Bob, Akasha, #140

I've been using the gaskets out of the 5 gallon pails of sheetrock mud, and paint buckets for the past couple of years now. They are round, hollow cored, fit perfect in the groove, don't leak, and are free. I picked up a lifetime supply off of one construction site, if ever one was to fail, it takes about 5 minutes to change. I'd probably feel better about it if I were to spend a few bucks at the marine store and got the real stuff, but being poor is keeping me creative.

Dana Berube, JADE, #99

Defender sells "portlight rubber" in black or white, in 1/4", 5/16" and 3/8" width. It has a square cross section and it is hollow so that it will compress and seal. It is not cheap- starting at $2.79 a ft. Measure carefully. Page 115 of the 2001 catalog. I think the 1/4" size is what you need.

Defender offers a free catalog- www.defender.com

The large ports on my boat were simply installed with silicone. Neat, tidy and watertight. I, however, have the early bronze frames installed without a liner- there appears to be no provision for any sort of rubber gasket. Some folks swear by the butyl rubber windshield setting tape that the automakers use. I haven't tried it myself. You might try an auto glass shop to see if they might have a rubber window gasket extrusion similar to your original.

On my previous boat- I had large port windows similar to what you describe. Large aluminum frames with a rubber gasket "sealing" to the tempered glass pane. They leaked. Not wanting to disassemble the frames and glass- I used an exacto knife to trim back the failing exposed rubber- then, I scraped and cleaned all of the loose debris from the channel. Next, I cleaned all of the surfaces with acetone (mine were glass- don't use acetone if you have plastic panes). I then heavily but careflly caulked with marine silicone sealant. A professional looking job resulted from tooling a smooth radius in the uncured silicone with a wood tongue depressor. Final trimming of the silicone was done with a razor blade, exacto knife and a steady hand. Final cleaning was with acetone. This entire process was made much easier due to the ports being made from glass. When complete the ports looked brand new and sealed absolutely water tight- for the first time in years.

Richard Loerky, KAI VIA, #573

Can't tell you how many times I replaced the 1/4" square rubber gasket material after buying #573 in 1976. Probably annually. Then I switched to Teflon impregnated stuffing box packing. It has been in place for over 8 years and still seals perfectly. CAUTION! For the first month or so - especially in hot climates - the excess Teflon may drip a bit. Place something to catch the drips under each opening port.