Paul,

The inflatable seal on my PIK 20B was damaged long before I took
possession of the glider and I pulled it out completely on day 1. I
replaced it with 10x6 mm soft foam weather strip glued in the groove
in the canopy frame. On top of this, along both left and right sides I
glued a semi-circular soft rubber seal (approx 10 mm x 5 mm window
seal) that provides a good seal as it partially compresses the rubber
and also presses the rubber into the foam. This system does not work
at the front and rear hoops because the shearing action between the
canopy frame and fuselage damages the seal. In those area I use a
10x4 mm wool weatherstrip on top of the foam that slides readily over
the mating face on the fuselage. I've been using the above system for
about 18 months and it is very successful. No wind noise and it
allows canopy expansion/contraction in extreme temperatures (-35 to
+45C) with no leaks. It sounds a lot of work but the effort is worth
it.

Geoff Vincent
Grampians Soaring Club
Australia


On Sat, 6 Aug 2005 02:54:35 -0400, "Glen Kelley"
wrote:

Paul,

I just replaced my PIK-20 canopy seal. I used 3/8" thick white
weatherstripping and so far, it is working great. No wind noise and is
holding up well. I don't know if it will last longer than a season, but it
is cheap and easy to replace. The only wxstripping stock I found to work
well was from home depot and is 3/4" wide by 3/8" thick. I cut it in half
and worked it into the chanel for the old tubing seal. The wind noise is
gone now.

Glen Kelley
"P. Corbett" wrote in message
nk.net...
CRUMMY!!
This is the best description I can think of to describe the pump-up canopy
seal on my PIK-20B. The concept is good, since like on most side-hinged
canopies, the sealing surfaces are both horizontal and vertical. But in
practice the seal never was great and it leaks so re-pumping is routine.
(Usually at the top of each thermal, when I can remember).

This winter I plan to improve the seal. I would appreciate hearing from
anyone who has done this or even just thought about it. I am not sure
whether
the best solution is to stay with some Pneumatic concept or go to a
different type of seal altogether.

Paul
ZZ