Port lenses-where to get/or polish?

[Skipper]

I looked but couldn't find posts here that exactly match. Please direct me or look at q's below. Thank you.

1. Where do you get custom-cut port lenses? Acrylic, Lexan etc. I need 4 (pic) and locals want $250-$500 to cut them. :-|
They're just 25"x6" flat plastic. Don't need new frames.
2. One guy suggested actual glass, since it won't craze. I thought this odd. Don't want a breaking wave to crash through glass. Or have me throw gear aboard on deck, only to break glass. Am I wrong? Anyone use glass?
3. What about headlight polish? I tried gel coat compound and wax, which worked some, can actually see outside now, but is there anything that actually restores clarity? I wasn't shy about compounding, since the lenses are fog city anyway.

 

[kloudie1]

Recently replaced my hatch lenses with smoked acrylic from Tap.. They accurately cut it to size.. At the time I ordered, they were least expensive in "cut to order" but check out a few suppliers for what ya need.. Measure precisely and send them the drawing .. I used 3/8" for my hatches..
https://www.tapplastics.com/product...plastic/acrylic_sheets_transparent_colors/519
Some people use safety glass in ports, like a car windshield.. very strong and shatter resistant ..

 

[Ken Cross]

You can certainly polish them. A headlight polishing may work. The only issue I see with polishing is it can introduce some optical distortion. If you (like me) don't care about that I'd polish more. You indicated gel coat compound, Some of that is a bit course if you are trying to see through it. You may need some finer compounding goop.

Ken

 

[Will Gilmore]

I'm sorry, I don't know anything about this but, I'm interested in seeing where this project takes you. I try to make stuff like this myself and the auto glass suggestion sounds good. Not a big span of glass so plenty of support from breaking. I'm the guy pulling a piece of side window out of a junkyard or picking up that FREE stuff on the side of the road to cut to my specs.
I hope to have the time to make port lights that open so please let us know how it turns out?
- Will (Dragonfly)

 

[LeslieTroyer]

I have glass on my C36. I think you’ll find that expense and rapid design differation is the main reason for switching to acrylics. Some may say it was safety but I think $$$ and time to market mean more.

I also suspect old glass is much stronger than old crazed plastic.

 

[Will Gilmore]

I also suspect old glass is much stronger than old crazed plastic.

If you go with glad, get the safety coated stuff that doesn't fall to pieces of broken.
-Will (Dragonfly)

 

[jssailem]

On plastics, like the lense for a clock or barometer, I have used Megiiars 10 and 17.
https://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-10-Plastic-Polish-Cleaner/dp/B0002VAZ34
It removed the fine scratches but only after several hours of work. The lenses were not really hardened surface plastic. They came out like new. Worth a try if damage is not deeply gouged.

Also have used a buff wheel and jewelers rouge on large more deeply damaged pieces. This will remove material and care is needed to not over do the process. When you are removing product you can change the optic and induce blur or wavy lines. As @Ken Cross has identified.

 

[Sumner]

You couldn't see through the lens at the binnacle on our Endeavour. I spent about 10 minutes on it with one of the lens polishing kits, probably HF's, and now it is way better. I was wiring the helm with all new wiring and instruments so went back to work on that, but will probably spend some more time on the lens in the future. I think I'll try it on our portals as well as they are also like yours. I've used the polish kits on my vehicles with good results,

Sumner
===============================================================================
1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Canada, Florida, Bahamas

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

I made new lenses for a Van guard 32 I was working on. Lexan is very easy to cut with a jig saw and or Table saw. Edges clean up with a router. If you can source the materials not a big deal to cut. If you don't want to try it, find a small wood shop.

 

[LloydB]

I recently went to Home Depot and bought acrylic that they sell for storm doors. By chance the store had several broken and miss-cut pieces at a discount that I could use. The acrylic can be cut the same way as glass by scoring it or with a saw or router.

 

[Ron20324]

Didn't someone once suggest toothpaste?

 

[jssailem]

They did Ron. Toothpaste is a light abrasive. Sometimes used on car headlights to cleanup the lenses.

 

[Chenega]

Using a spray bottle of water, 3” Velcro polishing discs of 1500, 2000 and 3000 grit (McMaster Carr), I have polished acrylic pilot house windows to like new condition. Slow rpm and lots of water with cordless right angle drill, change discs often. You can buy a 3 inch Velcro softpad at true value hardware (for headlight polishing).
Do on cloudy day - easy one beer job.
I know this is an old post but may help someone...

 

[jviss]

I replaced a port on a 1984 Catalina 36. The originals are tinted, tempered, safety glass. I had the replacement made by an auto glass shop. It was not super expensive, that I recall, and will never scratch, unless you take a diamond to it.

 

[NYSail]

those look like a Beckson port.... did you price new ones? Beckson also sell parts directly.... I bought all new lenses for my opening ports from them..... its worth a call if in fact they are Becksons. They were great to deal with... Good Luck

 

[Dan_Y]

I read somewhere that a thin coat of clear sprayed on the plastic will prolong how long the polish job lasts. Has anyone tried that? Did my car headlights last year and they looked almost new, but look almost as bad a year later.

 

[Skipper]

Thanks all.
I couldn't find tinted acrylic at Home Depot.
I think the polishing wheel might be worth a try.
The ports are specific to Bristol. They were custom made by an aluminum company that starts with A. Can't remember.
Looks like it might be easiest to go with Tap per Kloudie. They are high volume and quoted $120 for all 4. This after locals wanted min $250 and as high as $500.... for 4 little pieces of flat plastic.
Oh and then there's the tempered glass quote. $1,524. :-0 for 4 tiny panes of glass? Give me a feckin' break.
Someone mentioned auto glass shop, but will they custom cut? I'll check it out tomorrow.

 

[jviss]

Someone mentioned auto glass shop, but will they custom cut?

Yes, they will. And custom tint. I found a shop in Worcester, MA.

 

[seadaddler]

Meguiar’s plastX
My dodger windows were so bad I started getting prices on new ones but I was told about plastX
With special orange buffing kit on portable drill like compounding gel coat ,apply heavy amount of plastX and buff away scratches and foggy.
3 years ago I did buff and they still look like new,I had some real bad marks and could not see out and now clear like new.
I put the liquid on and used the buffing until came clean and removed bad marks and bad scratches.
Nick

 

[Skipper]

Meguiar’s plastX
My dodger windows were so bad I started getting prices on new ones but I was told about plastX
With special orange buffing kit on portable drill like compounding gel coat ,apply heavy amount of plastX and buff away scratches and foggy.
3 years ago I did buff and they still look like new,I had some real bad marks and could not see out and now clear like new.
I put the liquid on and used the buffing until came clean and removed bad marks and bad scratches.
Nick

I might have to try that. As long as it doesn't make the lenses too clear. For you see, this project has taken a turn to the surreal....
The wife found out what I was planning, and then disclosed that she very much likes the foggy windows. "More privacy" at the dock. Like a frosted bathroom window (pic).
"If we have clear windows, we'll have to close the curtains."
Who knew.
So I bothered all those vendors for naught.