acrylic windows

[Nigel_Ward]

How thick should the acrylic be for windows which are about 1100mmx200mm?
The boat is 21 ft, and I have been offered 5mm thickness. The window are the overlapping type screwed to the glassfibre. Any suggestions on minimum thickness from the experience of others would be welcome.

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[William_H]

Sounds about right. will

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[VicS]

Mine are 5mm and are about 870 x 270 and mounted in rubber seals.

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[richardandtracy]

When I built my boat the advice from Bruce Roberts was a minimum of 6mm, but as the window is remarkably narrow it should be OK @ 5mm.

Regards

Richard.


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[dickh]

I would go for 6mm not 5mm - it will be much stiffer and won't flex.

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I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[geoffatstanpit]

And you won't have to put the fastening screws quite so close together.

Geoff

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[Nigel_Ward]

Thanks for that. I think I will feel safer with the 6mm!

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[VicS]

Probably a sensible choice unless you have to fit the windows to much of a curve. (On my boat I had to have the smaller f'c's'l windows pre formed) Regarding the hole spacing I expect you'll stick to the old holes in the grp, in which case use the old windows as a guide to drill the new ones and remember the holes in acrylic must be oversize to allow for the different expansion of the acrylic and grp. Also don't use coutersunk screws. Include small spacers in the joint and don't fully tighen until the sealant has cured. The object being not to squeeze it all out.

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