If you have a monohull sailboat, you probably wonder what in the world I’m talking about. “Windows” — aka hatches and ports — don’t rattle on boats.
But if you have a catamaran, trawler or houseboat with sliding windows, you know exactly what the problem is. Over time, the window no longer fits perfectly snugly in its track (or perhaps it never did) and rattles with every little movement of the boat. Every. Single One.
Sailing, they rattle. Engine running, they rattle. Refrigerator running, the one over it rattles. Any little movement at anchor — let alone a wave — and they all rattle. The noise is beyond irritating.
Luckily, you can buy and easily install “Window Anti-Rattlers” that press the sliding windows against the frame and keep them quiet. A previous owner apparently installed them on our boat. We had guests over this past weekend who found them to be the most fascinating thing about our boat (you always find something when you visit someone else’s boat).
Unfortunately, they’re chrome plated and not stainless; they will show their age after a while as mine are doing — I think these are somewhere between 10 and 19 years old. Yes, mine are ripe for replacement as part of our summer interior refit project!
And then the hunt ensued for what they were called (didn’t occur to me to Google on something so obvious as “window anti-rattle”) and where to buy them. I found a few places carry the Sea Dog Anti-Rattle Fasteners — the shipping charges can vary considerably depending on location, so I’m giving four sources — the lowest “price” may not be the lowest overall!
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Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Blaine Lentz says
Just fyi, Perko makes these as well. Here are their two versions:
http://www.perko.com/catalog/cabinet_hardware/525/sliding_window_locks_&_anti-rattles/
http://www.perko.com/catalog/cabinet_hardware/370/sliding_window_locks_&_anti-rattles/
Carolyn Shearlock says
Thanks! Hadn’t seen theirs.