Third taillight reinstall

[SeaDawg]

Our third taillight has had its issues over the 13 years, requiring resealing every 3 years or so. This year, it developed some hairline cracks, as well. 

We decided to remove and replace the lens. Ours was held mostly by (probably 4200) adhesive, and a few dabs of epoxy. The adhesive loosened with a heatgun on low in the attic, and a plastic scraper. The epoxy was mostly mechanical, plus heat. And not fun. We broke the lens in several places removing it.

We installed the new lens from Oliver with a bed of grey butyl tape. Since that's not truly an adhesive, Paul added 6 small stainless screws. We felt pretty comfortable with the addition of the screws, since butyl is pretty much self-healin, self-sealing.

After a couple days for the butyl to rest, he applied loctite marine to the exposed edge of the trimmed butyl, to protect it from uv and dirt .

Today, we added a lip of eze rv gutter on the eyebrow, for good measure,  extending beyond the length of the bottom of the trapezoid lens.

I  can't tell you for another 5 or 6 years if this is a better solution, but I'll be able to tell sooner if it fails. We'll see. We're both very happy with tried and true old school  butyl as window and hatch bedding.

 

 

Edited December 19, 2020 by SeaDawg
Add photos

[SeaDawg]

In the photo, you can see edge of one of our new panels. We have upgraded from 2 x 100 watt panels, side mount, to 2x 200 watt panels. 

That writeup to follow soon.

[GaryJona]

I like the gutter idea good thinking 

[dedroll]

was your lens leaking into the attic?

[SeaDawg]

I didn't find any moisture in the attic this time, but we've had to reseal it every three or four years, as it has indeed leaked in the past. 

Since the lens had hairline, probably surface cracks, it seemed to be the right time to replace it, rather than reseal this year and replace next.