New Lexan for Hatches

[Jeff]

Thanks Art

When a technical question is asked I always hope someone in that field or closely related chimes in with good advice. I am in the process of putting windows in companionway doors. I would not have accounted for the expansion rate of Lexan.That is what makes this forum so good.Jeff

 

[Chris Burti]

Maybe Bowmar!

Read recently on the net that Bowmar (or Lewmar, I'm having an acute case of CRS disease today) had a bad production run for a couple of years centered around 2000 as result of bad plastic. My 2001 is included. If it is the same problem (sounds like it may be) they will provide a replacement if you are the original purchaser of a boat with a unit from that production run installed in it. You have to supply the lens or good digital photo's for their approval. If they are satisfied, they'll send you a new lens that is a DIY install. There was a reference to finding this information from Catalina, so I don't know if it is a Catalina specific problem or a general one. It is certainly worth checking out. You may want to do a search of the various Catalina forums for the details as I can't remember where I read it right now.

 

[J. Baker]

Another know it all??

Actually, I am never absolutely sure of anything!!!! I think I purchased laminated glass for the fixed ports. I was told that it was two hard layers sandwiching an unbreakable film and was simular to windshield glass. Does anybody have an opinion of how it would take the dreaded green wave????

 

[Gerry Cooper]

Ron, I used a light to medium grey tint on

the Lexan offcut I purchased. I didn't use Acrylic on the large for'd hatch because a) Lexan was already fitted and b)it made sense to me to fit something stronger than regular acrylic in that location.Most plastic retailers should have offcuts or have access to them.

 

[Ron]

found the right Lexan (I think)

Thanks for the info. I went to GE Structurals and a local glass cutter and found the following (source of info in parens):- Lexan MR10 is abrasion and UV resistant and comes in several tints (GE)- It's expensive and hard to find. I found a half sheet I can buy direct from GE, but it took some searching & phone time (me)- Lexan is much less likely to crack when drilling than acrylic (glass guy)- Most OEM hatch companies either do not list the material they use or they use acrylic (me and a GE distributor who has a hatch mfr as a significant customer)I'm going with the Lexan half sheet and will do several ports next year with the leftovers. Anyone have a good recommendation (brand/model) sealant? I removed 20 year old glass, I think it was previously silicone sealant, but I have no idea beyond that what to replace it with.Thanks again,Ron

 

[patrick]

buff it

my 1978 hatch was so cooked and scratched it looked like it was frosted. with nothing to lose i wet sanded it with 800 then 1200 grit paper then buffed it with a really abrasive auto compound and buffer and finished with turtle wax. its crystal clear now.