Fabricating cabin entry door
 

My Maxum 240SCR has had 2 cabin doors break in the last 2 yrs. The
first one I replaced with a stock door which was hard to find and
costs $500. I would like to make a new one The original is around
24x48 translucent bronze polycarbonate (as I understand it) and 3/8"
thick. What I am wondering is can I use white starboard in the same
thickness? Will it be strong enough? If I go thicker, the lock won't
fit properly (it sets on the top of the door and a cut-out).

I can probably find polycarbonate and cut that, but am afraid of
another breakage.

Fabricating cabin entry door
 

"Mike C" wrote in message
ups.com...
My Maxum 240SCR has had 2 cabin doors break in the last 2 yrs. The
first one I replaced with a stock door which was hard to find and
costs $500. I would like to make a new one The original is around
24x48 translucent bronze polycarbonate (as I understand it) and 3/8"
thick. What I am wondering is can I use white starboard in the same
thickness? Will it be strong enough? If I go thicker, the lock won't
fit properly (it sets on the top of the door and a cut-out).

I can probably find polycarbonate and cut that, but am afraid of
another breakage.


The starboard will most likely work but you will lose the light the
translucent door lets into the cabin. It will also show dirt much more than
the poly.

Why are the doors breaking? I think you have to focus on this problem
first.........the poly cabin door should not break as you are experiencing.

Fabricating cabin entry door
 

"Mike C" wrote in message
ups.com...
My Maxum 240SCR has had 2 cabin doors break in the last 2 yrs. The
first one I replaced with a stock door which was hard to find and
costs $500. I would like to make a new one The original is around
24x48 translucent bronze polycarbonate (as I understand it) and 3/8"
thick. What I am wondering is can I use white starboard in the same
thickness? Will it be strong enough? If I go thicker, the lock won't
fit properly (it sets on the top of the door and a cut-out).

I can probably find polycarbonate and cut that, but am afraid of
another breakage.


You might want to research "plexiglass" a bit. There are different types
(lexan, polycarbonite, etc. ) and they have different properties. One is
more resistant to cracking, but I've forgotten which one it was. I
replaced the flybridge "splash guard" on an old Uniflite several years ago
and I remember learning about the different types and properties of
plexiglass.
Maybe your doors are made of the wrong type for the purpose.

Eisboch

Fabricating cabin entry door
 

On Apr 30, 5:26 pm, "JimH" wrote:
"Mike C" wrote in message

ups.com...

My Maxum 240SCR has had 2 cabin doors break in the last 2 yrs. The
first one I replaced with a stock door which was hard to find and
costs $500. I would like to make a new one The original is around
24x48 translucent bronze polycarbonate (as I understand it) and 3/8"
thick. What I am wondering is can I use white starboard in the same
thickness? Will it be strong enough? If I go thicker, the lock won't
fit properly (it sets on the top of the door and a cut-out).

I can probably find polycarbonate and cut that, but am afraid of
another breakage.

The starboard will most likely work but you will lose the light the
translucent door lets into the cabin. It will also show dirt much more than
the poly.

Why are the doors breaking? I think you have to focus on this problem
first.........the poly cabin door should not break as you are experiencing.

My guess as to why the doors are breaking is the lock cut-out. The
door is essentially a rectangle with a rectangular cut-out on the top
middle of the door. The cutout is maybe 4x2 inches. I think this cut
out wekanes the whole door. Both times it has broken from the edge of
the lock cut-out.

Fabricating cabin entry door
 

"Mike C" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Apr 30, 5:26 pm, "JimH" wrote:
"Mike C" wrote in message

ups.com...

My Maxum 240SCR has had 2 cabin doors break in the last 2 yrs. The
first one I replaced with a stock door which was hard to find and
costs $500. I would like to make a new one The original is around
24x48 translucent bronze polycarbonate (as I understand it) and 3/8"
thick. What I am wondering is can I use white starboard in the same
thickness? Will it be strong enough? If I go thicker, the lock won't
fit properly (it sets on the top of the door and a cut-out).

I can probably find polycarbonate and cut that, but am afraid of
another breakage.

The starboard will most likely work but you will lose the light the
translucent door lets into the cabin. It will also show dirt much more
than
the poly.

Why are the doors breaking? I think you have to focus on this problem
first.........the poly cabin door should not break as you are
experiencing.

My guess as to why the doors are breaking is the lock cut-out. The
door is essentially a rectangle with a rectangular cut-out on the top
middle of the door. The cutout is maybe 4x2 inches. I think this cut
out wekanes the whole door. Both times it has broken from the edge of
the lock cut-out.


Round the corners of the cut out to relieve stress concentration. Also, you
could do it in Lexan, same stuff around hockey rinks. Take the measurements
to Tap Plastic or another plastic shop and they will cut it to size. No, or
very little charge for the cutting.

Fabricating cabin entry door
 

On May 1, 2:00 pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:
"Mike C" wrote in message

oups.com...





On Apr 30, 5:26 pm, "JimH" wrote:
"Mike C" wrote in message

roups.com...

My Maxum 240SCR has had 2 cabin doors break in the last 2 yrs. The
first one I replaced with a stock door which was hard to find and
costs $500. I would like to make a new one The original is around
24x48 translucent bronze polycarbonate (as I understand it) and 3/8"
thick. What I am wondering is can I use white starboard in the same
thickness? Will it be strong enough? If I go thicker, the lock won't
fit properly (it sets on the top of the door and a cut-out).

I can probably find polycarbonate and cut that, but am afraid of
another breakage.

The starboard will most likely work but you will lose the light the
translucent door lets into the cabin. It will also show dirt much more
than
the poly.

Why are the doors breaking? I think you have to focus on this problem
first.........the poly cabin door should not break as you are
experiencing.

My guess as to why the doors are breaking is the lock cut-out. The
door is essentially a rectangle with a rectangular cut-out on the top
middle of the door. The cutout is maybe 4x2 inches. I think this cut
out wekanes the whole door. Both times it has broken from the edge of
the lock cut-out.

Round the corners of the cut out to relieve stress concentration. Also, you
could do it in Lexan, same stuff around hockey rinks. Take the measurements
to Tap Plastic or another plastic shop and they will cut it to size. No, or
very little charge for the cutting.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

IIRC lexan is much more flexable and expensive but not as prone to
"tearing". For the thickness he needs, it may need to be framed out
with something more solid. Corrections and or alternative information
is welcomed and will be addressed if done in a responsible, adult
manner;)

Fabricating cabin entry door
 

alternative information
is welcomed and will be addressed if done in a responsible, adult
manner;)


WTF is that supposed to mean? :-)

Fabricating cabin entry door
 

On May 1, 3:34 pm, "longshot" wrote:
alternative information

is welcomed and will be addressed if done in a responsible, adult
manner;)

WTF is that supposed to mean? :-)

If I am wrong, go ahead and correct me. But a responsible correction
should include an explanation as to why, and a more appropriate
solution or suggestion,/comment on the subject. Not just "you are
wrong, you are an idiot" which I got the last time I tried to pass
some knowledge on to another poster with a problem.

Now to the origional poster. I am just starting up the shop in the new
location. No promise, but if you post a pic of the doors you are
trying to duplicate, I may be able to whip something up for you, I
could use a starter project to get me back in the swing. Plastic
sounds like fun, I love the smell of burnt plastic and sawdust in the
morning.