Acrylic dome fitted to main hatch.

[graham]

You used to see quite a few of these but not lately. Anyone used one? In particular how long do they remain clear enough to look through clearly?

I cruise on my own in the Bristol Channel and regullarily heave to for a few hours to wait for the tide to allow entry into harbours.

Especially in winter it would be nice to get an all round view without venturing outside into the cockpit.

I have been mulling over the idea of building a small dog house just big enough to get your head in to look around into the sliding hatch with windows on all sides .The dome would be cheaper and easier.Possibly allow better vision as well.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I sailed on a Wharram Catamaran, a Phai 31 IIRC. The owner had 2 domes on each hull's companionway hatch. They look quite small but when ones neb is stuck inside one they are surpassingly roomy. The chap had his Phai for 5 years that I know of and the domes were still in good nick then. Great fun, very useful, bright and warm, good visibility out the elements.

If they did get scuffed or dulled there are polishing kits for acrylic/perspex which would restore the clarity.

 

[Seajet]

I think Vetus made / supplied the hatches with astrodomes built in ?

I suspect one of the main reasons they fell out of use is that a sliding main hatch usually has to go into a garage nowadays.

At least two of the transatlantic Anderson 22's had these; if I can think of any more useful info I'll let you know.

 

[fantasia7628]

Here is a source http://www.sunlightplastics.co.uk/acrylic-domes/

 

[Hadenough]

Hey they are not expensive are they! I'm desperately trying to think of what I can use one for now? Suggestions?

 

[Kelpie]

Keep it for a fancy dress party and dress up as an astronaut. You know you want to!

 

[Seajet]

The same thought ran through my head, ' I've got to have me one of those ! ' Wouldn't go on my boat if I ever wanted to open the main hatch, but there must be a use...

 

[Hadenough]

Elton?

 

[JumbleDuck]

Hey they are not expensive are they! I'm desperately trying to think of what I can use one for now? Suggestions?

Cut a hole in the bottom of the boat at one end of the cabin sole, protrude the dome out into the sea and watch the fish!

I'm amazed at how cheap they are. A blown acrylic glider canopy is easily a grand for just the plastic.

 

[Hadenough]

Joking apart, so am I. I have. Just refurbished the roof hatch on my wheelhouse motorsailer and had a quote of £600 for a piece of perspex 1600 by 800. Trouble is it is 15 mm thick! I'm living with the crazing!

 

[Rigger Mortice]

It may be advisable to check the thickness of the plastic before rushing out to buy one of those domes. It may only be one or two mil thick.

 

[Seajet]

I did wonder that; still, I really wish I still had a car with a sunroof - how cool would that be, cut into it hatch style !

 

[JumbleDuck]

I did wonder that; still, I really wish I still had a car with a sunroof - how cool would that be, cut into it hatch style !

 

[Seajet]

How did you get access to my secret file marked ' The Dysonmobile Project ' ?

 

[Sailingsaves]

Pretty easy to make yourself too.

Acrylic becomes really malleable in an oven, clamp it in a circular manner and blow with a compressor through a centre hole. Trick is to not blow so much that acrylic becomes thin at top of dome. I would adapt the device I used to use (yup, I made a few just because the equipment was to hand and it was fun _ had no use for the domes) by diffusing the air as it enters so as not to weaken the top of dome.

Made some nice curly swirly things too with just an oven, strip of acrylic and gloves.

 

[Ravi]

Especially in winter it would be nice to get an all round view without venturing outside into the cockpit.

Could I interest you in one of these, sir?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-SOV...MENT-TRENCH-TELESCOPE-PERISCOPE-/221383438538

 

[Buck Turgidson]

Or go full cabbage and grab an authentic part from here : http://spitfirespares.co.uk/canopy.html

 

[graham]

Thanks for the replies both usefull and amusing ones

Have given it some more thought and a small hardwood doghouse built onto the hatch is a better option for us. "Banjo" doesnt have side decks so a grabrail bolted to the top of it will also be usefull for clambering forward .Also it will look a bit better i think.

Plan is to make one out of thin plywood plonk it on and see what it looks like before making one in hardwood with windows rebated into 4 sides.