Here’s an excerpt from a conversation on the Sam’s Marine Hatteras Owner’s Forum titled ‘Window Frames’:

Yes sir done it a few to many times by the book and a few years down the road it starts again! The only thing that holds up best is to anodize it. But still not full proof if your in Salt water.

Talked with a older Gent been Anodizing all his life owns his own company here on the Island. His response was

“Son it will hold up if you anodize it then put it in the boat and put the boat up on blocks in the back yard”

On my list for updates is Fiberglass frames from Broadus Nice stuff and No more corrosion !

Dan
End Of The Line II
1967 34C

Curved Glass Windshield

This 1974 model Hatteras recently had the boat windshields replaced with our fiberglass replacement boat window frames and glass.   The original boat windshields were made from aluminum frames with plexi-glass, due to the curve of the windshield.  The windows were leaking and the plexi-glass was aged with visible crazing.

Our ability to bend glass allowed us to replace the windshields with custom curved glass made from laminated safety glass.  In this particular application, the customer selected tinted glass.

This customer reports: “Windows are great,no leaks.”

View other curved boat window frames!

The windows that were replaced in this phase of restoration included:

• Front Boat Windshields
• Pilot House Windows
• Galley Windows

As you can see in these pictures, the paint line from the previous aluminum windows is not visible.  Although this boat is slated for a paint job,  if a boat’s paint is in good condition, there is no need to paint the boat after installing Lookout Boat Window Frames.  We design our frames to make your installation as simple and cost effective as possible.

Let us know if we can answer any questions about your boat window restoration project!

Thanks,

Broadus

Hatteras 46′ Boat Windows

Hatteras 36′ Convertible Boat Windows

Lookout Boat Windows

Keeping the Traditional Character of a Hatteras 36′

One of the distinctive qualities of Lookout Boat Window Frames is the fact that once installed, the original character of the boat is not distorted but enhanced.  This is evident in the pictures of this 36′ Hatteras and the story that follows.

Originally, the aluminum boat windows in this Hatteras 36′ had heavy corrosion and numerous water leaks that led to interior wood damage.  The boat was scheduled for a complete restoration, inside and out that included the following updates:

• Power
• Generator
• Paint
• Wiring
• Interior
• Windows

The owner of this 36′ Hatteras was adamant that he wanted to replace his old aluminum frames with new aluminum frames.  This method would guarantee that the character of the boat was retained, which was very important to this boat owner.  So although this boat owner was aware of our product, Lookout Boat Window Frames, he had not seen the finished product installed on a boat.  He was sure that aluminum replacement boat windows were the way to go.

So he moved forward with his boat restoration project and ordered new aluminum frame material to build his new boat window frames.  He welded the aluminum together at the corners to build the replacement boat window frames. But he had a bit of trouble with the welds holding together. Note that by trade, the owner is a professional welder, so he knew what he was doing. Once he was satisfied with his welding, he sent the aluminum boat window frames off to be anodized. When the completed anodized frames came in, he noticed some hairline cracks in the welds.  At that point the owner decided these aluminum frames were not going to work.  Fortunately for him (and us), we are neighbors!

By this time,  Lookout Boat Window Frames had been installed in our Hatteras 58′ YF. Once the Hatteras 36′ owner saw our new windows, he realized that the character of the boat had been preserved while enhancing the charm of the tradition of a Hatteras Yacht. Soon thereafter,  Lookout Boat Window Frames were installed on this 36′ Hatteras Convertible.  The owner is very satisfied and loves the new look of an old Hatteras!

This 1991 Hatteras was suffering from leaky boat windows.  The aluminum frames were corroding therefore contributing to water leaks to the interior of the boat. These leaking boat windows eventually caused water damage to the interior wood. To prevent further boat damage, the owner made the decision to fix the problem once and for all.

So, after 20 years of good service, the time had come to replace the old aluminum boat windows. We removed the aluminum frames, windows and sliding boat windows.  They were replaced with fiberglass replacement  boat windows.  Because the front boat windshield had been fiberglassed in, only the side and rear bulkhead windows were replaced. As you can see in the pictures, the owner changed the color of the frames from black to the same color of the boat. The frames were painted and fixed  glass was mounted according to the owner’s specifications of paint color and glass tint.

The owner also requested customization of the side boat windows to produce the appearance of one continuous piece of glass. Where the forward and aft salon windows were once separate windows, the glass now butts together with 1/2″ blind caulk joint in the center.  This technique updated the look of the boat windows and the overall boat. Although this technique required a some extra work and expertise, our boat window specialists tackled the job like nobody’s business!  As you can see, the result was outstanding.

This Hatteras yacht is now on its way to the Bahamas for a fishing tournament.  We wish them the best of luck!

More pictures will be coming soon.

Want to see the basic boat window installation?

The ‘Taylor G’ is a  43′ Hatteras Double Cabin.  She was purchased approximately one year ago with plans for extended cruises to the Bahamas and long weekends at Cape Lookout.  Although the Taylor G was in relatively good condition, renovations, such as repairing the damaged woodwork from the leaky boat windows was an obvious punch list item.  But the more important task was putting the boat mechanicals to test to determine what work, if any, would be necessary to ensure the vessel was sound.

After a year of trial runs, the boat owner was satisfied that both the engines and the generator were in good working condition for safe cruising. But before any interior renovations could begin, the owner was convinced that the leaky boat windows must be addressed first.  Restoration of the leaking cabin boat windows would stop further water damage to the existing wood trim.  Therefore other interior work could be performed without fear of damage caused by water leaks.

This is where we came in.  While the owner revamped the plumbing, we were happy to update the Taylor G with fiberglass replacement boat windows.  First, we requested the paint color code for the exterior of the Taylor G  to match paint for the fiberglass frames. The Taylor G also had the boat window glass replaced in the pilot house, so the owner chose the glass tint to match both the pilot house glass and in the glass in the new salon boat window frames.  When the windows were ready for installation, one of our recommended boat window specialists installed the boat windows at the dock.

As you can see in the pictures,  the Taylor G instantly has an updated look while maintaining the traditional character of a Hatteras Yacht.  And since water leaks are now no longer a problem,  this Do-It-Yourself boat owner has repaired the interior water damage around the windows, restored the headliner and installed new carpet.  One of the last items on the punch list will be a new exterior paint job, which should take place prior to next year for cruising.

The Taylor G is scheduled for an extended cruise to the Bahamas in the summer of 2012 for the couples’ 10th wedding anniversary.  We wish them the very best and hope they enjoy the beautiful scenery on every cruise from the Taylor G’s new Lookout Boat Windows!

Other Job Details:

This 1976 model 43′ Hatteras Double Cabin is replacing the old aluminum boat window frames in the salon with new fiberglass replacement boat window frames. Due to the fact that the aluminum boat windows in the pilot house serve as part of the permanent structure, fiberglass replacement window frames are not an option.  Therefore only the window glass on the upper pilot house will be replaced by one of our recommended boat window specialists.

At the request of the boat owner, we are providing a turn key boat window project.  This includes the removal of the boat windows and frames, prep work and the boat window installation at a dock near our boat window manufacturing facility on the ICW.

Paint and Glass

Although the boat owner plans to paint his Hatteras in the future, the fiberglass boat window frames were painted Oyster White to match the color of the current paint job. The glass is laminated safety glass which is the industry standard for this application.  The owner chose Industrial Grey for the window tint.

In the Pictures

The old boat window removal can be seen in the pictures.  This requires only a few tools as discussed in the boat window installation videos.  The proceeding two pictures details the method in which the new boat windows were blocked up with wedges until the epoxy cures, which takes approximately 45 minutes.  The next few shots reveal a new boat window, ready to go!

Boat Window Installation Time

The time it took two skilled boat window specialists to complete this boat window replacement was approximately 2 hours start to finish (minus cure time).  For the DIY’er, this task will require two people and approximately 3 hours to complete.  (That doesn’t include the time it takes to drive to the hardware store for the tools you forgot to pick up on the first trip- hee hee!)  Of course, if several boat windows are being installed at once, the calculated time involved will be less, as it is easier to prep for several windows at once vs. one window at a time.