New Windows decided on with Marks Plastics - 2011

August 2011 - At Marina Cortez Harbor Island, San Diego, CA
Mark from Marks Plastics came by on Sunday and we all talked windows.
Our windows look OK. That is they are not real crazed and you can see out OK.
We just were wondering if they could be better or if we should just replace a couple of the not-so-good ones. Or just leave them as is as only one leaks a little, we could just fix that little leak.
 Mark brought a bunch of samples and some templates. 
These two samples are safety glass the one on the right is a darker tint
The two small pieces are for the windshields in the front of the cabin.
He had asked if we would remove a couple of frames so when he got there he could check out his templates. We took off all the screws on one frame but the frame did not move. Mark said it should come right off. We decide d to wait to see how they actually came off as we have never seen the frame apart. 
Lots of screws.
 When Mark got to the boat he said the must be attached with some silicone or some other stuff. As we found out the frames were removed at some point and the windows siliconed in to prevent leaks. If you look at the hand rails under the windows you can see where there was water leaks at some point in time.
I started with a putty knife working the frame like we did on the port holes.
Once we got some of the silicone cut I could use a big screw driver to pry off the frame being car full to detach the headline from the silicone.
 Mark unscrewing a frame.




Being real car full not to puncture or rip the head liner!.
The frame almost off.
 Now removing the rest of the silicone.
 This makes the job much more difficult as we had to remove (me) three frames so Mark could check the thickness of the sides of the bulk head where the windows are. Also to see if the standard windows will fit or if we need oversized. It is slow going because it is most important not to rip the head liner. On the cockpit window it was the wood veneer you do not want to rip off. A small piece did come off but not where you could see it.
Side window frame - templates.
Cockpit window.
Mark removing screws.
Me removing silicone and frame.
Praying away frame.
Almost.
 Now removing silicone.
Mark checking depth.
We are measuring width.
Figuring it all out.
 Debbie and I are looking at and deciding on the tint for the windshield windows. You can see a sample glass by the hatch.
These are the darker tint.
This tint is the one we chose - darker gray, we will be in the tropics.
Note:
 We have had these windows now for several years in the Mexican Riviera and love them!
This would be fine if we were going north not south lighter gray.
New windshield windows tint.
All back together.
 All back together.
All back together.
 Mark was at the boat for at least two hours and explained a lot to us. We chose the darker tint glass windows. We also chose the new white frames. We had the choice of using our old inner frames but that would have given us part white and part brown on the inside. It would have save some cash on each window though. All in all a good experience. It was quite clear (notice pun) to use at the start that our windows while not being glazed were definitely the original windows and fogged up. This is the last major cosmetic project and it will enhance out quality of life over the years.
 We will also get new curtains to match the frames and out head liner and upholstery.
Now that will not be easy!

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