Has anyone removed and replaced their Bomar hatch glass? I removed the old glass and cleaned up everything. I purchased GE Ultraglaze 4000 silicone to rebed, but was wondering if anyone had any tips on the rebedding process? I have a feeling it's going to be messy.
Randy,
You are 100% correct. Wear disposable gloves and have a FULL roll of paper towels on hand. I replaced my plastic glazing with tempered glass so cleanup was easier because the minerial spirits I used to clean up did not attack the glass. I used black silicone by the way.
Good luck...
Dale
Thanks Dale. I'm jumping in this weekend. Will let you know how it turns out.
I haven't done the hatch, but I have done my pilothouse windows. Use lots of masking tape on both the frame and the lexan.I cut up a bunch of pieces of posterboard I had in 3 inch squares to use as squeegees. Keep a garbage pail handy, Squeegee the excess silicone, when the cardboard gets loaded up throw it in the garbage and use a fresh one. As soon as you get it squeegeed level pull the tape and dump it in the garbage. Otherwise it will be a religious experience, (like the loaves and fishes).
Don't try to reuse the silicone, it will be skinning over and won't stay smooth.
I got this from Bomar:
INSTALLING REPLACEMENT LENSES IN BOMAR HATCHES
TOOLS: replacement lens
tube of silicone (GE Ultra Glaze)
old spoon
old butter knife or hanger
masking tape
blunt tool
1. Cut away old silicone and remove old lens.
2. Place a two inch strip of masking tape around the top/outside of hatch lid in order to make the removal of excess silicone less difficult.
3. If you have a cast hatch disregard this step. If you have an extruded hatch and wish to replace your gasket, do so now, making sure to place lip of the gasket on top of the flange (the underside of the lens will sit on this portion of the gasket).
4. Peel off the paper on the underside of the lens.
5. Place a moderate bead of silicone on the flange and any crossbars where the lens will set.
6. Float the lens into the silicone bead.
(If your replacement lens has holes in it for your latch dogs, place the holes away from the hinge. Allow a 1/8" space between the front edge of lens and the frame so your handles will be properly aligned. If your replacement lens does not have holes in it simply center the lens in the silicone.)
7. After the lens is floated, apply a generous bead of silicone in the gap between the edge of the lens and the frame.
8. Using the back side of an old spoon, place the tip in the silicone at 45 degrees and trowel off any excess silicone.
9. Check for air bubbles (swelling in the silicone). To remove air bubbles; drag an old butter knife through the swollen area three inches before and after the swollen area. Apply a new bead of silicone to the disturbed area and trowel off excess silicone with your spoon.
10. Allow the hatch to sit for two days.
11. Peel off the masking tape and lens paper carefully use a blunt tool to remove any silicone, being careful not to scratch the lens or the hatch frame.
12. The silicone will be totally cured in 7 days.
Sounds good, still I would keep a garbage pail close and a roll of paper towels, you will need to wipe the spoon and knife. Leaving the tape on can create problems if it dries it may want to lift the silicone and leaves a ragged edge. Leaving the tape on until it dries may be OK if the silicone edge is so thin (after running the spoon over it) that it tears easily.