Interesting. Do they have an alternate spec. for safety glass? I always
wondered which was better, since tempered was stronger, but if it ever DID
break, it would be completely gone. Safety glass might break, but the
lamination would hopefully hold it in place rather than just crumble out of
the fixture.

"Jim Woodward" jameslwoodward at attbi dot com wrote in message
...
I might save you a buck or two, although I told you they weren't cheap.

The ABS rules for Fintry (tough boat, go anywhere, but not anytime) call
for
0.4" tempered glass in forward main deck windows and 0.3" in side windows,
both 28"x36". That suggests that 1/2" glass is substantial overkill in
your
24x30" windows, as smaller windows take thinner glass. I'd probably go
with
3/8" tempered glass, if I were you. Or, do a little research and you might
find that you could go even thinner....

The ABS numbers come from my naval architect, Jerry Gilligan at Jack
Gilbert's office -- they design heavy workboats most of the time.




--
Jim Woodward
www.mvFintry.com


.
"Adam" wrote in message
...
Thank you everybody for you help with windows issue.
After a lot of e-mails to rbb and direct to me, I decided to not go with
plastic and
automotive industry either.
Yesterday I went to marine windows manufacturer - Beclawat.
They are doing really professional job.
I was surprised how easy it is to bend 3" radius corners with heavy
aluminum
extrusion.
Everything is easy if you have access to proper extrusion, even could be
welded nicely.
I was also surprised how expensive it is.
Heavy duty 1/2" tempered glass, fixed, anodized 24x30 approximately $500
Cdn.
Thanks once again for your help
Adam
"Jim Woodward" jameslwoodward at attbi dot com wrote in message
...
I think Michael was speaking of windows -- the whole installation,
frame
and
all -- made for RVs (caravans in Brit-speak), buses, etc., which are
to
be
avoided. Fintry had caravan windows installed as part of her 1998
refit,
which we're replacing because they aren't strong enough.

On the other hand, for the most part, glass is glass, although for
marine
use it should be either tempered or laminated -- in that sense,
automotive
glass is just fine.


--
Jim Woodward
www.mvFintry.com

.
"Rufus" wrote in message
...
I have a WS32 with custom dodger using 4 pieces of automotive glass
the
PO installed in Australia in about '80. It all cleans up very
nicely,
clear as can be. Not sure why it'd be any other way, but maybe I'm
just
a luck fellow. g

Rufus



Michael Porter wrote:

Cheap, maybe
Automobile windows don't last long in salt water, any more than
home
windows do.

Michael Porter

Rufus wrote:

Might see if there are any "bolt-in" size automotive windows out
there.
Trucks and vans would be the likely donors. Getting it from
vehicles
from the mid-late 90's would make it cheap and also it would
likely
to
continue to be readily available for another 5 years or so.

Rufus

Michael Porter Naval Architect / Boatbuilder
mporter at mp-marine dot com
www.mp-marine.com