Auto Glass in Hatches .......................

[Ralph Johnstone]

As an act of sheer boredom, I'm looking at replacing the cracked, crazed, and gawd awful looking lenses in my Lewmar hatches. However, as inevitable as time and entropy, these new lenses are going to be cracked, crazed, and gawd awful looking in about another ten years. :bang:

Has anyone ever used, or considered using automotive safety glass (rather than acrylic or polycarbonate) for hatch lenses in order to avoid this problem of deterioration ? ? ? ?

 

[Hermit Scott]

Catalina considered it when they built my boat in 1979.

 

[kendall]

I've had three boats that came with automotive safety glass two with laminated and one with tempered.

Two had broken glass (laminated) but never leaked, which I feel is a good thing. Whether glass or acrylic, it's unlikely to break, but my opinion the most likely time for them to break is when I least want an open port.

For my Ariel, laminated safety glass cost $28 for each of the stationary ports, cut ground and ready to drop in.

Advantages I see is that it is unlikely to scratch or discolor, and won't get 'delicate' with age.

Ken.

 

[jibes138]

Port covers

Roger Long did a great modification to his boat where he added storm covers to his external ports. You can also look to "select plastics" the world leader in lens replacements for hatches to have yours fixed up. I had a yard put in a new lens in my forward hatch as it was all crazed. It was pretty expensive but came out great. I think I'd send it to "select" next time since that is their business.

 

[Roger Long]

Roger Long did a great modification to his boat where he added storm covers to his external ports.

If you can give them a pattern, I would be very surprised if you can get a better price than from these folks:

http://www.marineeco.com/

Ask them about MR 10 Lexan. It has a UV and scratch resistant layer on each side which is a surface treatment and not a lamination that could come loose. It's held up very well to abrasion on my boat so far. I got my MR 10 before I knew about Marineeco but they can probably get it.

Auto glass can shatter, sometimes just from a light tap if conditions are right (I know, I did it) Lexan, OTOH, can be bent almost 180 degrees without breaking. If I did have a skylight break, I'd just as soon not have little cubes of glass all over the place to complicate things.

 

[BobM]

No. My plan is to make sunbrella covers.

 

[Roger Long]

My plan is to make sunbrella covers.

A great idea. I had a friend make me some as the UV beating down on the silicone sealant caused leaks after the second season. The covers also make it cooler inside on hot days (I have two large skylights) and add some insulation which helps keep condensation down when cold.

Mine are made from a heavy vinyl with a soft backing. The drawstring is in an internal skirt so that the heavier fabric doesn't have to wrap around the frame and sheds water away from the gasket. They look and work great. She's not expensive as she's not in the business and does things like this on the side. PM or email me if you would like to inquire. She's in the Boston area.