Hi all, I am writing this article to offer my help to anyone who may need it. I have been a plastics fabricator for 10 years mainly involved in the marine OEM and after market parts. I am also a Hunter owner. I am offering my expertise to all who have questions regarding the right type of plastic to use for their boating needs, ie:what to use for replacing Teak or other wood products,Plexi versus Lexan and which one to use for which application,the virtues of Starboard and it's cousins(a product made as a Teak replacement),which is the proper material to use for bearing stock, etc. I have used several plastics on my H-25 restoration and may be able to suggest how you can use them on your boat also. Please send in a response if you have any questions or comments and I will try to help you if I can. Russ Kline(Merry James V)
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Companionway Cover
Hey Russ, I just posted an inquiry then found your offer of help. I Need to replace my 1/2" thick Plexiglass (?) sliding cover on my '81 H33. Local plastics company wants $150 for the material, $100 for labor to put the curve in it, and $300 for a mold for the curve. Any idea how or where I could get one cheaper? The curve is 5/8" high, and there are teak parts screwed to all four edges. I can handle the teak fabrication/assembly, but getting the curve in it is the catch. Thanks in advance for your offer to help.
Hey Russ, I just posted an inquiry then found your offer of help. I Need to replace my 1/2" thick Plexiglass (?) sliding cover on my '81 H33. Local plastics company wants $150 for the material, $100 for labor to put the curve in it, and $300 for a mold for the curve. Any idea how or where I could get one cheaper? The curve is 5/8" high, and there are teak parts screwed to all four edges. I can handle the teak fabrication/assembly, but getting the curve in it is the catch. Thanks in advance for your offer to help.
Question About Plastic
Thanks for the offer, Russ. I've got a question for you and since I'm not a fiberglass or design expert, please don't laugh to hard. Why can't a sailing hull be made out of plastic?
Thanks for the offer, Russ. I've got a question for you and since I'm not a fiberglass or design expert, please don't laugh to hard. Why can't a sailing hull be made out of plastic?
Richard/about companionway hatch
Dear Richard, Thanks for your question.If you could let me know more about your particulars I could tell you what to do or tell you where to go.If you would e-mail me and I can see if I can help you even more. Thanks,Russ Kline
Dear Richard, Thanks for your question.If you could let me know more about your particulars I could tell you what to do or tell you where to go.If you would e-mail me and I can see if I can help you even more. Thanks,Russ Kline
Jay it's not a dumb question
There are a few boat builders(Hunter included,I believe)that are making small hulls out of certain plastics. One problem that you would have with most plastics is their flexibility or what we would call elastic memory. The main problem would be how to stiffen such a hull properly and not add weight to it. What I have seen in the manufacture of small hulls is usually a two piece structure containing a foam filler for rigidity, the only problem with that is that the foam will eventually detatch from the plastic at some point and it tends to absorb water and be a big mess. also the molds can be fairly expensive and making large parts is fairly difficult to do. On the other hand fibreglass is a material that hardens with a catalyst,molds are cheaper to make,doesn't really have an elastic memory and have greater rigidity. I hope I helped you a little with my answer. Thanks,Russ Kline
There are a few boat builders(Hunter included,I believe)that are making small hulls out of certain plastics. One problem that you would have with most plastics is their flexibility or what we would call elastic memory. The main problem would be how to stiffen such a hull properly and not add weight to it. What I have seen in the manufacture of small hulls is usually a two piece structure containing a foam filler for rigidity, the only problem with that is that the foam will eventually detatch from the plastic at some point and it tends to absorb water and be a big mess. also the molds can be fairly expensive and making large parts is fairly difficult to do. On the other hand fibreglass is a material that hardens with a catalyst,molds are cheaper to make,doesn't really have an elastic memory and have greater rigidity. I hope I helped you a little with my answer. Thanks,Russ Kline
Hey, Russ..Yellow Plastic..
..makes me irritable. Sometimes the white 'Marine' plastic gear degrades to various bands of white to yellow components in a few months. Aren't there UV inhibitors manufacturers can add to product? Also, is the plexiglass 'pox' inevitable? After years of using port canvas covers, it hardly seems to make any difference. Thanks for the chance to ask you some questions.Rick D.
..makes me irritable. Sometimes the white 'Marine' plastic gear degrades to various bands of white to yellow components in a few months. Aren't there UV inhibitors manufacturers can add to product? Also, is the plexiglass 'pox' inevitable? After years of using port canvas covers, it hardly seems to make any difference. Thanks for the chance to ask you some questions.Rick D.
Rick D.
I thank you for your question and my response is that most likely the plastic (be it Plexi or what we call acrylic)that you have is now made with a higher amount of styrene in it than it used to be,a way for the manufacturers to save money. If it was made of a good quality acrylic,I suggest cell cast acrylic,you would usually get 10 to 15 years out of it before it turned so whitish to see out of or it would have the typical crazing that occurs. Dave if you've ever seen the center console fishing boats you would know what I mean about the aging. Oh I forgot the acrylics have a built-in UV inhibitor and yes there is no way to prevent the aging effect of it so far other than slowing it down with covers like you use,are they made of Sunbrella??? I hope I have helped you in some way. If you need further info write again. Thanks Russ Kline
I thank you for your question and my response is that most likely the plastic (be it Plexi or what we call acrylic)that you have is now made with a higher amount of styrene in it than it used to be,a way for the manufacturers to save money. If it was made of a good quality acrylic,I suggest cell cast acrylic,you would usually get 10 to 15 years out of it before it turned so whitish to see out of or it would have the typical crazing that occurs. Dave if you've ever seen the center console fishing boats you would know what I mean about the aging. Oh I forgot the acrylics have a built-in UV inhibitor and yes there is no way to prevent the aging effect of it so far other than slowing it down with covers like you use,are they made of Sunbrella??? I hope I have helped you in some way. If you need further info write again. Thanks Russ Kline
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