In an earlier thread, the question was asked how to replace crazed lexan glass on Lewmarhatches (see http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-m...placement.html). In this same thread, a Lewmar-certified shop, Select Plastics, in Connecticut was mentioned and I called them. But, I was shocked by the cost, approximately $300/p 22x22" hatch. I have 3 hatches. Ouch.
I'm sure this company does great work, but my question is this: couldn't most any glass company do the same thing with lexan or should I bite the proverbial bullet and just pay?
Shop around, look at local glazing companys and or do-it-yourself, if you use the smoked Lexan it is truly forgiving make a pattern and cut the plastic to match make a mould and radius it to fit your current configuration place in the oven @ 200° till the plastic relaxes and let cool naturally at the prices you quoted you could get enough practice to become an Expert
Ouch... I don't see why you couldn't just get the lexan cut to size by any competent glazier. The fitting and installation of it will be a bear, but nothing beyond what most competent sailors are capable of handling. Unless the lexan has some significant curvature to it, it really shouldn't be that difficult or expensive.
__________________
Sailingdog Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
If you're new to the Sailnet Forums... please read this POST.
Most ports are convex and not flat, this is done to facilitate the shedding of water particularly on the deck skylights. Boatlife caulk should be used to bed the new Lexan. To remove the lexan utilize a piece of music wire and manipulate it thru the old caulk and with a pair of vise grips on each end of the wire you and an accomplice can use a sawing motion to remove the old port.
Most ports may be convex, but most hatches I've seen that are lexan or acrylic are flat, or very close to it.
__________________
Sailingdog Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
If you're new to the Sailnet Forums... please read this POST.
Although I have not worked on Lewmarhatches, I did build 6 new hatches for my boat in 2003. If you use Boatlife Life caulk, as recommended previously, and you're careful, you can probably replace the lexan (or use cast acrylic instead of lexan) yourself and have a leakproof job.
You got me. I was so caught up in my own evolution that I have just completed, that I didn't comprehend the question. Maybe I can redeem myself. If its just the flat Lexan that goes on top most companionways. Its pretty straight forward any glasier should be capable of replicating it. To do it yourself. Cut out the same shape/size hatch, the radius of the edges can be accomplished with a router, you need a sharp cutter and a mist of coolant to prevent smearing the material and then polish this edge with a cloth wheel and rouge. I hope that helps...
