Companionway Glass change out

planoron

planoron

.
May 17, 2014
136
hunter 380 Plano, TX
I have a H380 with the smoked .375 plexiglass slide for the companionway. I am considering changing it out to white for privacy and less heat in these Texas summers. Has anybody else done this and any suggestions would be good. It is marginally less expensive to buy a cut size vs a 4x8 full sheet. A little texture would be nice too. You could actually get 3 out of a sheet if anybody in DFW would like to go in.

Thanks in advance
Ron
 
Ron20324

Ron20324

.
Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
Not sure what this would do for heat, but here at the condo I wanted to block the view of passers-by from the sidewalk. The first window I sprayered a frosting. Not bad, but I came with a better idea to treat the whatever-it-is plastic windows. I sanded it with fine-grit palm sander. WENT LEFT TO RIGHT ON ONE SIDE, UP AND DOWN ON THE OTHER. Window in place, the room is brighter since the scuffed plastic acts like a fresnel lens. When the time comes, I'll treat the slider on the boat, but maybe just on the inside.
 
Last edited:
AlastairLC

AlastairLC

.
Jan 2, 2017
765
O'Day & Islander 322 & 37 Scottsdale, AZ & Owls Head, ME
Reflectix foil insulation on backing, slid under the slider will deal with the heat but allow light in when not needed. If your hatch drop panels are plexi, you can tape some to the inside of them as well.
 
garymalmgren

garymalmgren

.
May 29, 2018
604
Canel 25 foot Shiogama, japan
When the sun directly hits a reflective surface ( be it white of shiny alu ) a lot of the heat will be reflected but in time the surface will get hot.
The idea is to stop the sun from directly hitting what you don't want to get hot.
I am guessing the with the boards in we are talking about an air conditioned boat.
A wet towel thrown over the companionway is a start. Not very elegant.
A dodger with a drop sheet to keep the sun of is another solution.
The smoky boards are pretty difficult to see through so I don't see privacy as that much of an issue.
In the end you will have heat leaking in all over the place. That is the nature of boats of hot climates and a white companionway isn't going to change it much

Sorry

gary
 
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markwbird

.
Nov 26, 2012
1,654
C&C 40-2 Berkeley
I replaced mine and I had it cut at Tap Plastics. I went with clear smoked but I do not live in Texas (anymore) so the heat is not the issue. I did make an improvement to it, though. Rain water was getting into the cabin because rain that fell on top of the sliding hatch was free to flow forward and right off the forward edge of the hatch and get into the headliner and eventually into the cabin. I cut a 1/2" wide by 1/4" deep trough across the width of the hatch (up forward where it is hidden) to channel the water to the sides where it will flow back and into the cockpit. Worked like a charm. Cabin stays bone dry now.
 
planoron

planoron

.
May 17, 2014
136
hunter 380 Plano, TX
garymalmgren said:
When the sun directly hits a reflective surface ( be it white of shiny alu ) a lot of the heat will be reflected but in time the surface will get hot.
The idea is to stop the sun from directly hitting what you don't want to get hot.
I am guessing the with the boards in we are talking about an air conditioned boat.
A wet towel thrown over the companionway is a start. Not very elegant.
A dodger with a drop sheet to keep the sun of is another solution.
The smoky boards are pretty difficult to see through so I don't see privacy as that much of an issue.
In the end you will have heat leaking in all over the place. That is the nature of boats of hot climates and a white companionway isn't going to change it much

Sorry

gary
Click to expand
Gary, good call,, going with a sun sail for at the dock now and make a good cover later.
 
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