Storm Boards

Oct 30, 2019
43
We hope to take our Albin Vega offshore in the next couple of years,
but before we do we need to make various modificatons / additions.

She is a Mark II, and although the windows do not leak and perform
excellently in normal conditions we know they could pop out in a
knockdown resulting in the ingress of potentially fatal amounts of
water. (2 well documented incidents, one in the Atlantic near
Bermuda, one in Drake Passage).

Some people replace the windows, but storm boards seem a cheaper
option - possibly even made from acrylic so they could be left in
place in the open ocean without blocking all the light. Is there any
reason for not making storm boards from acrylic?

Secondly - and more important - how can they be attached only when
required without the fittings looking ugly when not in use or being
a potential source of leaks?

Has anyone done these, or have you got any good ideas? No point in
re-inventing the wheel here . . .

- Nick Bowles
'Fairwinds' V1842
 
Jan 28, 2001
694
Acrylic isn't the strongest stuff out there. Consider Lexan instead. Much,
much stronger. You can cut it on a table saw. Not very expensive either. Not
sure how you would attach it though. Don't bolt it as it expands and
contracts in the heat and cold at a different rate than the fiberglass. You
could build tracks that would bolt on above and below the ports and slide
the Lexan into them when you wanted it in place.
Walt, S/V Lyric
#120
 
Oct 30, 2019
1,459
Or can you not drill the bolt holes in the lexan oversized, to allow for
contraction and expansion - I saw that once . . .Nicholas Walsh
Nicholas H. Walsh P.A.
111 Commercial Street
Portland Maine 04101
Tel. 207/772-2191
fax 207/774-3940

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