Rattling windows?

[mackidaddy]

Hi all,
Since Day One, the sliding windows have rattled quite a bit while at idle. Do others experience this and have you come up with a solution? Thanks.

[Russell]

Since no one else has commented I will offer my observations. My boat had significant vibration at idle until the motor mounts were replaced at 11 years. You do not say the year of your boat or if you purchased it new. If the vibration has been there since new it may be an alignment problem or the idle speed just happens to be at the resonant frequency of the windows. Before replacing the motor mounts i used to bump up the rpm to about 800 in the no wake zones and that smoothed it out tremendously.

[JackK]

Yes, my windows also vibrate terribly at idle. It has become second nature to slide open the window before starting the engine. It doesn't eliminate the vibration but at least its not as bad. I thought it was a problem with my idle being too low and was going to have a mechanic look at it. Haven't gotten around to that yet.

BTW mine is a 2003 Flush Deck.

Jack

[furball]

Pretty much the same here. 2006 flushdeck. At idle the windows rattle.
I typically bump the rpm's up just a bit and the rattle goes away. At about 725 or less, they rattle.
John

[Carl]

I can hardly hear the windows rattling from everything else! I seldom let mine idle at all, only when docking. Even when trolling I bump it up to around 850 to 900 before ingaging the trolling valve. Now if I can only figure out the creaking thats coming from between the helm and the head wall when she rolls from side to side I will be happy. While trolling last week it was driving me nuts!! Any ideas??

[mackidaddy]

Thanks everyone. JackK & Furball- your workaround is what I do too. Glad to know I'm not alone. I just thought I'd check to see if I was missing an obvious way to correct a pet peeve of mine. Thanks.

[DougSea]

Pretty much the same here. 2006 flushdeck. At idle the windows rattle.
I typically bump the rpm's up just a bit and the rattle goes away. At about 725 or less, they rattle.
John

I wonder if they (Albin) changed something in the window design in the later years. My 1997's don't rattle at all. There's a soft, brush like material in the channels and on the center trim and I've had no issues.

[furball]

Doug, my windows have rubber strips, not brushes. The rubber gets stiff and and loses pressure and they rattle in the tracks.
I need to look around for something to take up that slack.
John

[DougSea]

Hey John, I'll try and get a picture or two when I head down to winterized the water systems on Friday. My boat has plenty of other noises but the windows are silent.

[RobS]

There's a soft, brush like material in the channels and on the center trim and I've had no issues.

Here's the window channel material Doug is referring to

[DougSea]

Thanks Rob, that's the stuff. Nice and quiet!

[furball]

Is that all the way around the frame or just a couple of sides?
Thanks for the photo. Wonder if I could add it? Although, if the windows aren't rattling, I wonder what else I'll hear
John

[RobS]

Is that all the way around the frame or just a couple of sides?

For sure it's in the bottom horizontal track and the rear vertical track (as pictured)

I think it is at the forward vertical track and the top but can't say 100% without checking when at the boat next...

[joe.baar]

I'm pretty sure ours has the brushy stuff around all edges of all the side windows, sliding or not. Defender shows "Stainless Steel Sliding Window Channels" under the StanPro brand. Their blurb says "The polypropylene felt cushion will not rot or mildew", however when we took delivery the poly was so clogged with moss that I was unable to slide the port side window at all on several occasions. A friend who restores old automobiles recommended Oxyclean and then a spray-on lubricant for garage doors, sold at home stores. The can is on the boat so I don't have the brand name, it's something like "...Blaster" in a yellow spray can. It's designed to lubricate under dusty or otherwise foul conditions without picking up the dirt. I have to report that a year and a half later the windows still slide like new. I did re-Oxyclean the channels late this season and I'm waiting for a spell of dry weather to re-apply the lubricant.

[RobS]

I...it's something like "...Blaster" in a yellow spray can...

I know the stuff : http://www.blastercorporation.com/