Window Paint?

[gene]

My SO40 has pain on the portlights over where the seal is. I am not sure whether this is just cosmetic or if it protects the seal from UV. I did look at newer boats that had no coating but showed degradation of the seal below. At any rate it looks tacky and needs attention. I can:

1. remove the old paint and have no covering
2. repaint with ?
3. cover with tape or custom vinyl from a sign shop.



Anyway I am looking for suggestions.

Thanks

Gene

[sailby2]

Gene,

I can't offer any suggestions but my 2001 SO37 has done the same thing. I'd be interested in finding out what you decide to do as I've considered fixing mine as well.

Regards,
John

[chumu]

Gene,
I have a SO37 that was south for 5 years. The window "paint" was much more faded than in your pictures. I took some fine emery paper and removed it by wet sanding. I then went over the edges with finer paper to remove any scratches, I think that the last paper was 1500. My long term plan is to remove the old windows and replace them. Until then this looks reasonable. I don't have any pictures of the windows specifically.

Dennis
SO37 - Chumu

[gene]

I sent an email to Gilles at Jeanneau US and received the following response.

"The fixed portholes on the SO40 were supplied from Goiot with a flat black acrylic outline. This outline is cosmetic; the portholes are fastened with Sikaflex 295 UV which is UV resistant."

I suspect I will just try to remove the old paint and see how it looks.

Gene

[gene]

I removed the paint by using soft scrub with a rag. Worked pretty well. I use a stiff brush with Soft Scrub on one window and while it worked faster it left scratches. The corners have thicker paint and required wet sanding with 400 grit just to thin it a bit. After I had the paint off I tried polishing them with Meguires cleaner but the results were disappointing. I ended up using some fiberglass cleaner wax with a power buffer and the results were great. Looks much nicer now. Not a big project either. Rubbing compound would also have worked but I just used what I had.

Gene

[MartyB]

Gene,

Are you in the US or Canada? If so, go to Lowes, and get some "Goof Off" it used to be sold anywhere, but Lowes bought the company, altho I did see some at an Ace hardware the other day. I used this to remove the painted on name on my stern, along with some "0" grade plastic steel wool equal out of the paint section. I finished it with 000 equal. I found the aerosol equal spray worked best/easiest. Altho I did have a qt of it to wipe on with a rag at times too. A double edged sword approach with the same product.

Marty