On Wed, 07 Mar 2007 11:23:36 -0600, wrote:


I replace my companionway hatchboard with Lexan that I bought on eBay.
Did the cutting and machining myself. It was easy to work with. This
is who I bought it from:
http://stores.ebay.com/8020-Inc-Gara...nels_Polycarb_


How thick are your companionway slides? I don't see anything listed over
about 1/3 inch. I'd like to do something similar but my last boat had
1/2 inch and my current boat has 3/4 inch sliders.

You can always glue strips to the edges of the new boards to build up
the thickness. Using the thin material for the body of the boards
will make them much lighter...


--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI
peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
new newsgroup users info : http://vancouver-webpages.com/nnq
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca

Home Depo carries Lexan of various thicknesses and tints. There is
a learning curve to cutting it. Be sure to buy extra. Also, a bevel
looks professional. It is cheaper to practice on wood.

If you use tinted material be sure to install it on a cool cloudy
day. Heat will expand the tinted material more than your glass boat
and may result in cracks.

wankell

On Mar 1, 9:18 pm, "wankell" wrote:
Home Depo carries Lexan of various thicknesses and tints. There is
a learning curve to cutting it. Be sure to buy extra. Also, a bevel
looks professional. It is cheaper to practice on wood.

If you use tinted material be sure to install it on a cool cloudy
day. Heat will expand the tinted material more than your glass boat
and may result in cracks.

wankell

Drill the screw holes a bit over size and that stops cracks from
starting at the holes.

On 1 Mar 2007 19:18:32 -0800, "capt.bill11"
wrote:

On Mar 1, 9:18 pm, "wankell" wrote:
Home Depo carries Lexan of various thicknesses and tints. There is
a learning curve to cutting it. Be sure to buy extra. Also, a bevel
looks professional. It is cheaper to practice on wood.

If you use tinted material be sure to install it on a cool cloudy
day. Heat will expand the tinted material more than your glass boat
and may result in cracks.

wankell

Drill the screw holes a bit over size and that stops cracks from
starting at the holes.


And a perfectionist weill naturally polish the holes to a mirror
smoothness.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK

On Thu, 01 Mar 2007 01:02:51 GMT, "NE Sailboat"
wrote:

Thinking of replacing the lexan/port on the boat. I'm thinking that
purchasing this stuff and getting it cut is the trick.

Where does one go to find Lexan? Window places? Who carries it? And do
they normally cut it for you?



DAGS for plastic wholesalers. I bought a full sheet and replaced all
the ports and hatch lights on a 29' sailboat about ten years back. I
think mine came from cadillac plastics. Cost less to buy it in a full
sheet from a wholesaler.

It is easy to work with normal woodworking tools. you can saw it on a
table saw and shape the edge with a router.

depending on how it is to be installed, (framed, frameless) pay
careful attention to the potential for differential thermal expansion.
For instances if the border is protected from the sun's heat while the
center is not, you need to make provisions for thermal expansion by
either room in the frame, or some method of allowing movement in you
attachment/sealant method. Otherwise it will move anyway and cause
crazing at the differential point or leaks.

Frank