Acrylic washboards

[Rigger Mortice]

For what it's worth, I bought a couple of sheets of 12mm polycarbonate cut approximately to size from an eBay supplier. Milled out the rebated overlap with a router, put them together on the bench, then drew round my old cracked 9mm acrylic boards, jigsawed closer to the line, and trimmed off the last bit with the router (the jigsaw tends to make a rough melty edge, the router cuts cleanly).

They fit perfectly on the boat, better than the old ones due to the extra thickness, and must be significantly stronger.

Pete

If you want to cut acrylic with a jigsaw it is worth getting blades which are designed to cut plastic (Bosch make them, but I'm sure others do too). The blades have no set on the teeth. They give a remarkably clean cut.

But I agree that a router is easier to use. I can never get an accurate straight line with a jigsaw.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

. I am contemplating replacing them with two black and one clear acrylic ones.

Why black and clear?

 

[Searush]

Why black and clear?

Clear will allow the daylight in from dawn so you will be woken early. Maybe you want to be up at the crack of dawn, but I like a lie in at anchor. So black & clear makes sense as you can choose the level of privacy/ light.


I have plywood boards plus a set of clear perspex of the same size. That means I can mix & match depending whether I want to be able to see thro or not. All clear is great in the rain in daylight, but at night I prefer wood & just an odd clear can be useful for keeping an eye on what's outside while keeping the cabin private. Always made my own, it's not hard & much cheaper than buying.

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Clear will allow the daylight in from dawn so you will be woken early. Maybe you want to be up at the crack of dawn, but I like a lie in at anchor. So black & clear makes sense as you can choose the level of privacy/ light.


I have plywood boards plus a set of clear perspex of the same size. That means I can mix & match depending whether I want to be able to see thro or not. All clear is great in the rain in daylight, but at night I prefer wood & just an odd clear can be useful for keeping an eye on what's outside while keeping the cabin private. Always made my own, it's not hard & much cheaper than buying.

Our washboards are tinted acrylic. They let in more than enough light for us....and certainly more than the old plywood ones!. For added privacy or security when we are not on board we have a simple curtain which takes a second to fit.

I agree about making your own. It's one of the best gizmo's I've made for the boat.....and no more varnishing as a bonus.

 

[Andrew G]

+1 easy to make your own with DIY power saw and router (for final edging/rounding/smoothing) - but take it easy. Angle the top of the bottom board(s) and glue a narrow strip along the lower inner edge. Easy to add vents/solar ventilator . . . whatever.
Tinted does provide privacy with only minor reduction of light.
One downside is that they do scratch with rough handling - only cosmetic though. Andrew

 

[prv]

For added privacy or security when we are not on board we have a simple curtain which takes a second to fit.

I've thought of making a curtain for Ariam. We had two on Kindred Spirit - a light fabric one for privacy, and a heavy waterproof one to keep the rain out. The latter was necessary because at night the washboards made up part of the double bunk

Pete

 

[coopec]

If you want to cut acrylic with a jigsaw it is worth getting blades which are designed to cut plastic (Bosch make them, but I'm sure others do too). The blades have no set on the teeth. They give a remarkably clean cut.

But I agree that a router is easier to use. I can never get an accurate straight line with a jigsaw.

When I want to cut acrylic or stainless steel and need an absolutely straight line I use an angle grinder with a cutting disc and run the disc up against a steel strip which I used as a straight edge.

 

[geem]

If you want to cut acrylic with a jigsaw it is worth getting blades which are designed to cut plastic (Bosch make them, but I'm sure others do too). The blades have no set on the teeth. They give a remarkably clean cut.

But I agree that a router is easier to use. I can never get an accurate straight line with a jigsaw.

I cut mine out with a jig saw then used an electric plan to square up the edges and put a slight radius on the sharp bits to make them nicer to handle. I used a belt sander to blunt the corners. They look perfectly straight and professional. Make sure you cut them out when the acrylic is warm. The risk is they will crack if very cold