Has anyone replaced (or know someone who did), the sliding hatch at the companion way? The glass is 1/2" smoked, but I can only find clear.
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Tinted Film
We bought clear and covered it with tinted film that you get in an auto parts department. Applied it on the outside and it held up well for our first season. We did it this way because the quote we got for tinted plexiglass was about double the cost of clear.
We bought clear and covered it with tinted film that you get in an auto parts department. Applied it on the outside and it held up well for our first season. We did it this way because the quote we got for tinted plexiglass was about double the cost of clear.
Lexan
I used Lexan last year to replace my hatch cover. Check with the supplied link, they are very helpful in selecting exactly what you need. Lexan is a polycarbonate as opposed to an acrylic like plexiglas. Much tougher and able to handle the sailing environment. Lexan or other polycarbonates are what is used for bullet resistant glass. HTH, Ellis
I used Lexan last year to replace my hatch cover. Check with the supplied link, they are very helpful in selecting exactly what you need. Lexan is a polycarbonate as opposed to an acrylic like plexiglas. Much tougher and able to handle the sailing environment. Lexan or other polycarbonates are what is used for bullet resistant glass. HTH, Ellis
Smoked lexan was same as clear
for price. I used a table saw to cut to approximate shape but slightly oversize. Use a sharp fine tooth blade and don't go too fast or the plastic will melt. Make the taper cut first on the table saw. Stick the old part to the new one using double side carpet tape (or clamps) lining up the taper cut ends. Then use a laminate trimming bit and a router to cut to exact size and shape for the rest. Three blade bit worked best. It is worth buying one for this job. Do not remove the paper from the new part until you have finished lightly sanding the edges.
for price. I used a table saw to cut to approximate shape but slightly oversize. Use a sharp fine tooth blade and don't go too fast or the plastic will melt. Make the taper cut first on the table saw. Stick the old part to the new one using double side carpet tape (or clamps) lining up the taper cut ends. Then use a laminate trimming bit and a router to cut to exact size and shape for the rest. Three blade bit worked best. It is worth buying one for this job. Do not remove the paper from the new part until you have finished lightly sanding the edges.
Heat the cut
After cutting with a fine blade, pass a torch to the end. Practice on a few offcuts. The heat will eliminate the matte finish and make it glossy again.
After cutting with a fine blade, pass a torch to the end. Practice on a few offcuts. The heat will eliminate the matte finish and make it glossy again.
Call your manufacturer . . .
I called my manufacturer (Hunter in my case) and received a price on a replace sliding hatch cover that was very competitive. Also, plexiglas is generally preferred to Lexan in this application. Although Lexan is tougher, Plexiglas is stiffer. Since lexan will bend more than plexi given the same thickness, you will need a thicker piece of lexan if you stand on your hatch. Also, plexiglass is more scratch resistant.
I called my manufacturer (Hunter in my case) and received a price on a replace sliding hatch cover that was very competitive. Also, plexiglas is generally preferred to Lexan in this application. Although Lexan is tougher, Plexiglas is stiffer. Since lexan will bend more than plexi given the same thickness, you will need a thicker piece of lexan if you stand on your hatch. Also, plexiglass is more scratch resistant.
I called Hunter for our '92 37.5
Our 2 piece hatch boards (smoke colored) lasted us over 12 years. Then I dropped the upper piece and the hasp caught on a shelf and it broke apart where the hasp was attached. I tried to find a local supplier who sells thick sheets of this stuff, and could not find it this thick. So I called hunter and the price was very good so I bought both the upper and lower panels. They sent it that week and I got it shortly after. However, the upper piece was too tall. Maybe another year's 37.5 has a higher compainion way. So I put the old broken piece on the new piece, marked it with a sharpie, send it back to them, and got it back in a week. I then drilled the holes for the hasp. Done. Now, for the future, I would love to find a supplier that would sell the thick sheets so I could cut it myself. Patrick: Where did you get yours? Locally? How thick?
Our 2 piece hatch boards (smoke colored) lasted us over 12 years. Then I dropped the upper piece and the hasp caught on a shelf and it broke apart where the hasp was attached. I tried to find a local supplier who sells thick sheets of this stuff, and could not find it this thick. So I called hunter and the price was very good so I bought both the upper and lower panels. They sent it that week and I got it shortly after. However, the upper piece was too tall. Maybe another year's 37.5 has a higher compainion way. So I put the old broken piece on the new piece, marked it with a sharpie, send it back to them, and got it back in a week. I then drilled the holes for the hasp. Done. Now, for the future, I would love to find a supplier that would sell the thick sheets so I could cut it myself. Patrick: Where did you get yours? Locally? How thick?
Lexan, acrylic, and other plastics
JC, there are many suppliers in Seattle but I got my plastic at: Clear Cut Plastics, Inc. Plexiglass sheet, rod & tube cutting & custom fabrication. — 507 North 36th St Seattle, WA 98103 206 545-9131 They have a scrap bin with all kinds of plastic stuff in it for half price. I see the address is not as I remember it. It was actually on Leary Way just down the street from the huge bronze statue of Lenin -one of the worlds most monstrous murderers. He was a communist so that statue is ok in Seattle. Don't forget to vote while you are there - early and often. There are other plastics suppliers - Tap plastics in Bellevue and GE plastics in Southcenter. Probably more in the phone book. While you are in the Fremont area, stop and get some of the calamari at this great "unknown" restaurant. Hard to find but worth the trip all by itself. Fremont Classic Pizzeria & Trattoria The gourmet pizza, pasta & homemade desserts; bottled microbrews & Italian wines. Delicious! — Open Daily 5pm-10pm 4307 Fremont Ave N. Seattle WA 98103 206 548-9411 email info@fremontpizza.com website www.fremontpizza.com
JC, there are many suppliers in Seattle but I got my plastic at: Clear Cut Plastics, Inc. Plexiglass sheet, rod & tube cutting & custom fabrication. — 507 North 36th St Seattle, WA 98103 206 545-9131 They have a scrap bin with all kinds of plastic stuff in it for half price. I see the address is not as I remember it. It was actually on Leary Way just down the street from the huge bronze statue of Lenin -one of the worlds most monstrous murderers. He was a communist so that statue is ok in Seattle. Don't forget to vote while you are there - early and often. There are other plastics suppliers - Tap plastics in Bellevue and GE plastics in Southcenter. Probably more in the phone book. While you are in the Fremont area, stop and get some of the calamari at this great "unknown" restaurant. Hard to find but worth the trip all by itself. Fremont Classic Pizzeria & Trattoria The gourmet pizza, pasta & homemade desserts; bottled microbrews & Italian wines. Delicious! — Open Daily 5pm-10pm 4307 Fremont Ave N. Seattle WA 98103 206 548-9411 email info@fremontpizza.com website www.fremontpizza.com
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