What should we use to soften and lubricate the rubber seals on our Lewmar windows and hatches to prevent leaks? The boat is 5 years old. Thanks
I use 303 protectant on rubber http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product2_11151_10001_444697_-1____ProductDisplayErrorView (http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product2_11151_10001_444697_-1____ProductDisplayErrorView) and never had an issue. Make sure the rubber seal is what is letting water in. sometimes I pull on the rubber a little to 'fluff it up' on older hatches. I do that with the 2 rugerson butterfly hatches I have left. The 3 main Lewmar 60's haven't needed any attention other than cleaning and lubrication.
There is a thread called "leaking side windows," and some answers are there.
I ran a company making seals which are extruded nitrial and UV will take its toll quickly if no maintenance is carried out, by that I mean use silicone, or Vaseline which I have used for 40 years on my hatches with great results.
Over tightening is a probelem as well because it will give the nitrial a "memory" so just be carfull when closing the hatches and windows, a bit on TLC will more than pay for its self.
Odysseus
One more thought on leaking side windows. My rutgerson port windows leaked and it drove me nuts. Finally my dog ripped a couple screens trying to get at a plate of bacon and i realized the screens were do it yourself and installed so the screen is between the rubber seal and the stainless rim. After removing all the screens i never had a leak again. Our boat went through hurricane sandy on the hard and not a drop of water came in even with hurricane force wind driven rain. I was so happy to figure out the leaking problem my dog recieved a plate full of the bacon he ripped the screens to get to. In retrospect the internal port screens should have been the obvious culprit but i never thought about it since they looked like they were profressionally done. If anyone has a source of rutgerson port screens or a good way to install them without leaks please let me know. I have plans for a prototype over the summer.
The aft port side window (Lewmar) on my 2003 Bav32 was leaking a very small amount. Just a few drops, just enough to be a nuisance. When I had a good look, the seal had an indentation in it where the perspex pressed against it, but it looked and felt otherwise in good condition. Close inspection of the perspex showed a very thin film of green algae where it pressed against the seal which I cleaned off carefully.
I got a small bottle of "care4seals" from Storrar's chandlery in Newcastle and massaged that into the seal hoping to plump it up.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Typhoon-Care4Seals/dp/B005MJJYNS
It worked a treat. I fixed it in early November and it hasn't let another drop in since. I'm planning to treat all the other window seals as soon as the weather warms up a bit.