Date:         Tue, 24 Jun 2003 19:36:13 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Darn Westy Skylight and 7 days of nonstop rain
Comments: To: "Phil S." <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <20030624163226.45379.qmail@web12208.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 12:32 PM 6/24/2003, Phil S. wrote:
>works. Believe me or not, a year ago i installed a new
>skylight, and vent seal/boot....i used plenty of
>silicone on all the fittings and i STILL get leaks.

Ok, that may be part of the problem, silicone won't do it.  The right stuff
is a wad of goo with paper release backing, tell the RV dealer you want the
stuff to seal roof fittings...if you're lucky they'll sell you a foot or
two instead of the 20-foot roll.  It comes about two inches wide, just
pinch off what you need -- stays gummy forever.

>  Of
>course being parked on a steep driveway so that the
>hard rain was hitting that skylight at an angle did
>not help...but the skylight leaked badly even while
>driving. The open/close knob leaks as well as the

Anything that comes in the rear edge will fill the plastic housing until if
overflows through the hole where the shaft is.  Drill a couple little holes
in the low places to let the trapped water out...and keep it from pooling
there in future when you accidentally leave it open.

Incidentally, the skylight is in a neutral-pressure zone on the roof -- it
will blow in or out depending on what other windows and vents are
open.  Even if it's blowing out it will still probably rain in, so it's not
usable in the rain.  If you're parked and it's not windy it can probably
open an inch.

>gasket in 2 places no matter HOW hard i tighten.

Tightening hard isn't the answer.  If you need more than moderate pressure
with thumb and forefinger then something's not lined up right.  Test it
just like you would a freezer door -- slip a dollar bill between the
sealing faces and adjust the hinge angle until you get equal pressure all
around.  If you're using a skylight from the skylight guy, his are thicker
than standard and you will definitely have to adjust the hinges -- they'll
be too tight on the hinge side and not close on the mechanism side.

david


--
David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"