Acrylic to replace wood

[william24424]

1/4" grey see-through acrylic to replace rotted wood divider in aft cabin. Wood divided fender locker & hot water heater from cabin. My thought was acrylic wouldn't rot and I could inspect locker, through hull fittings, hoses, & hot water heater ect., without the gymnastics,contortionism, or colorful language. Your thoughts?

 

[FastOlson]

Probably best store that panel for the next owner someday who may have a differing esthetic in mind. No harm otherwise. Would he thickness you have in mind be rigid enough to match the spec's of the existing panel?

 

[dmax]

Acrylic will be a bit heavy but the transparency is a bonus - you could use pvc sheet (like Azek) which would be lighter and cheaper - maybe put a window in it.

 

[dLj]

What are all the functions the panel needs to do?

1) Any structural requirements? (Doesn't seem to be much more than a space separator but you need to answer this)
2) Water barrier? (Think about wet items inside the locker weeping water through - if it needs to be sealed, how well does this material play with the interfaces it seals against)
3) Impact requirements? (Things banging around and hitting this panel)
4) Aesthetic requirements? (Only you can answer this one)
5) Need to remove at some point for...whatever...
6) Long term survival - corrosion, abrasion, etc....

You can use any material you want if it performs all functions it needs to do....

From what I can see - an acrylic panel should work fine - just be sure to think about all functions it may actually need to perform.

dj

p.s. forgot smells - does it have to separate smelly areas from non...

 

[william24424]

No structural requirements
No water barrier, water goes from locker into bilge from holes under water heater
Aft cabin is primarily used for spinnaker and blanket storage (we mostly sleep in front or salon)
Moving acrylic sheet is same as plywood
Sheet is lighter in weight than wood, it's also thinner, however would be strong enough to prevent fender from slamming through
....Smells, haven't thought about that, I'm thinking it will cover similar to plywood, yet I was thinking about more air should prevent mildew in locker.

 

[william24424]

Regarding boat smells....I've had drips before and depending on the source of the leak, I had to tighten fittings, and at times, replaced hoses. Either way diesel drip added to the stuffing box drip can make for a stinking aft cabin, I wipe underneath the engine after a long sail, it's seldom bone dry, those absorbant sheets work well for a few weeks then need to be replaced.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Either way diesel drip added to the stuffing box drip can make for a stinking aft cabin,

I can think of nothing more unacceptable that a diesel leak. Deal with then immediately if/when they appear. It's not something you live with.