A Room with a View

One of the projects that has been on my list for a number of years was to replace the windows in our Main Salon. Our old windows had crazed so badly that you could barely see through them and it was down right dangerous to sit below and steer with the remote autopilot.

The main reason that I had been putting off the replacement of the windows is that there is no one that could make them from an existing pattern, so I had to pull the old windows, cover the openings with plastic, take them to an acrylic dealer, have them make new windows, and then install the replacements. It seemed to me like there were multiple opportunities for a breakdown in the process which could leave us windowless.

I finally got the courage up to undertake this project in November  of 2012. I found a company tat could get the material needed within a day of ordering, so I pulled the windows and drove them 45 miles to the guy, who promised that he’d have the material the next day and would have the windows the following day. Yea right!! I was prepared for a long haul with doubled up plastic taped in place to keep the rain and cold wind out.

I’ll be damned if the guy didn’t do what he said he would do! He wasn’t cheap, but he did the job quickly and correctly. While he was building the new windows I started thinking that I really didn’t want to try and install the new windows on my own, so I asked around and found a company that specializes in replacing boat windows/ports. He was able to come out the same day that I picked up the new windows and 1/2 day later, I had my new windows in place!

Now the windows are so clear, I have to make sure I’m fully dressed when I walk through the main salon!

Before beginning the replacement, I taped plastic on the inside to catch the old glue, dirt, etc. from the cleanup.

The new windows fit perfectly but had to be bent slightly.

Wow! A room with a view!!!