I sure hope I don’t get a war of words going, but I would like get some
recommendations on which sheet material to use for our sliding main
hatch: polyacrylate (Plexiglas, Lucite, Acrylite, Perspex, etc.) or
polycarbonate (Lexan). I know Lexan scratches easily but it is very
impact resistant (falling winch handles or a whipping snap shackle). I
know Plexiglas is a bit cheaper than Lexan but it is not a concern for
such a small size of project. To reduce temperature expansion stresses
and drilling difficulties, I plan to just use a flat sheet with a
squishy bedding (silicone?) and a sort-of loose oak frame with a
retaining bracket.
Can anyone offer some suggestions as to which is a better choice
material?

Jude and Randall

On Sun, 24 Oct 2004 16:24:25 -0400, Jude Douglas
wrote:

I sure hope I don’t get a war of words going, but I would like get some
recommendations on which sheet material to use for our sliding main
hatch: polyacrylate (Plexiglas, Lucite, Acrylite, Perspex, etc.) or
polycarbonate (Lexan). I know Lexan scratches easily but it is very
impact resistant (falling winch handles or a whipping snap shackle). I
know Plexiglas is a bit cheaper than Lexan but it is not a concern for
such a small size of project. To reduce temperature expansion stresses
and drilling difficulties, I plan to just use a flat sheet with a
squishy bedding (silicone?) and a sort-of loose oak frame with a
retaining bracket.
Can anyone offer some suggestions as to which is a better choice
material?

I would go with the polycarbonate.

I helped a friend last year with a Post restoration and the rear salon
hatch way was rebuilt with marine plywood sprayed with white epoxy.
He used 9034 version which is a abrasion coated Lexan. He also had
the Lexan tinted.

He basically built a frame, set the Lexan into it with plain old clear
RTV, built an over frame for the window and painted it.

Looks like a factory made fiberglass door - no joke.

And to date, I haven't seen any scratches.

Later,

Tom
-----------
"Angling may be said to be so
like the mathematics that it
can never be fully learnt..."

Izaak Walton "The Compleat Angler", 1653

Thanks for the information. By the way what is RTV?
Jude and Randall

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

On Sun, 24 Oct 2004 16:24:25 -0400, Jude Douglas
wrote:

I sure hope I don’t get a war of words going, but I would like get some
recommendations on which sheet material to use for our sliding main
hatch: polyacrylate (Plexiglas, Lucite, Acrylite, Perspex, etc.) or
polycarbonate (Lexan). I know Lexan scratches easily but it is very
impact resistant (falling winch handles or a whipping snap shackle). I
know Plexiglas is a bit cheaper than Lexan but it is not a concern for
such a small size of project. To reduce temperature expansion stresses
and drilling difficulties, I plan to just use a flat sheet with a
squishy bedding (silicone?) and a sort-of loose oak frame with a
retaining bracket.
Can anyone offer some suggestions as to which is a better choice
material?

I would go with the polycarbonate.

I helped a friend last year with a Post restoration and the rear salon
hatch way was rebuilt with marine plywood sprayed with white epoxy.
He used 9034 version which is a abrasion coated Lexan. He also had
the Lexan tinted.

He basically built a frame, set the Lexan into it with plain old clear
RTV, built an over frame for the window and painted it.

Looks like a factory made fiberglass door - no joke.

And to date, I haven't seen any scratches.

Later,

Tom
-----------
"Angling may be said to be so
like the mathematics that it
can never be fully learnt..."

Izaak Walton "The Compleat Angler", 1653

On Sun, 24 Oct 2004 17:06:50 -0400, Jude Douglas
wrote:

Thanks for the information. By the way what is RTV?

Sorry - force of habit. It's a high temp version of silicone seal. I
use RTV as a generic term.

Use silicone seal - a good grade should do it.

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Sun, 24 Oct 2004 17:06:50 -0400, Jude Douglas
wrote:


Thanks for the information. By the way what is RTV?


Sorry - force of habit. It's a high temp version of silicone seal. I
use RTV as a generic term.

Use silicone seal - a good grade should do it.

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717

I didn't know what it meant either, although I've heard and been saying
"Silicon RTV" for years. So, off to Google land I went and learned:

RTV means Room Temperature Vulcanization. Any of Dow's Silicon goop
that cures at room temp is called RTV.

Eisboch

On Sun, 24 Oct 2004 17:38:21 -0400, Eisboch
wrote:

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Sun, 24 Oct 2004 17:06:50 -0400, Jude Douglas
wrote:


Thanks for the information. By the way what is RTV?


Sorry - force of habit. It's a high temp version of silicone seal. I
use RTV as a generic term.

Use silicone seal - a good grade should do it.

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717

I didn't know what it meant either, although I've heard and been saying
"Silicon RTV" for years. So, off to Google land I went and learned:

RTV means Room Temperature Vulcanization. Any of Dow's Silicon goop
that cures at room temp is called RTV.

I know the aircraft industry goes through cases of the stuff - it's
very handy in aircraft engine cowlings and what not.

I jsut figured it was high temp stuff - didn't know about the Room
Temp thingy.

Kewl.

Later,

Tom

"Beware the one legged man in a butt
kicking contest - he is there for a
reason."

Wun Hung Lo - date unknown

Thanks for the information. We are now considering using lexan instead of
plexiglass.

Jude and Randall

Jude Douglas wrote:

I sure hope I don’t get a war of words going, but I would like get some
recommendations on which sheet material to use for our sliding main
hatch: polyacrylate (Plexiglas, Lucite, Acrylite, Perspex, etc.) or
polycarbonate (Lexan). I know Lexan scratches easily but it is very
impact resistant (falling winch handles or a whipping snap shackle). I
know Plexiglas is a bit cheaper than Lexan but it is not a concern for
such a small size of project. To reduce temperature expansion stresses
and drilling difficulties, I plan to just use a flat sheet with a
squishy bedding (silicone?) and a sort-of loose oak frame with a
retaining bracket.
Can anyone offer some suggestions as to which is a better choice
material?

Jude and Randall