Advice and/or suggestions for constructing a...

[Becky]

windscreen for Cornish Maid, a Moody 37'ish yacht.

HRs have them, and so do many other boats. So it should be posible and hopefully not too expensive. I have had words with a glassfibre man who is adding a sugar scoop onto the stern of our boat, to get a qoute for straightening up the curve of the forward end of the cockpit where at the moment the spray hood is fixed down. This would be to get straight sections and a straight base to reduce the difficulty in windscreen frame design.

But has anyone already mounted a windscreen onto their boat, to which a new/modified sprayhood is then attached?

If so, what material was used for the fame?

And what material for the windows?

And thirdly, any suggestions to keep the price down?

 

[tangomoon]

Becky this has been done by a chap in a PBO Practical article. Let me know if you have no joy here and I will find it for you. I think it cost him £500

 

[tugboat]

PBO December 2004, cost him just over £200 DIY

 

[Becky]

Thank you guys.

HWMBO may have a copy of that issue, he seems to keep everything related to boats.

 

[Stork_III]

Yes, but didn't look like a HR when finished.

If your getting the deck straightened forward of the cockpit get it profiled to the HR shape, buy a screen with real toughened glass from HR parts. Frame has groove in top to accept bolt rope type base for sprayhood.

Alternatively Buy a HR.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Becky - have to say I agree with Stork.

Based on what I have seen of non-standard add ons, you have to spend some dosh to do the job really well, or it will look manky.

 

[Becky]

I think that is the way we are going, unless it is really VERY expensive.

Which it probably will be /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[pvb]

Apart from the looks...

Apart from the looks (which are very important for long-term satisfaction), there's the issue of strength. Fixed screens get used as handholds for crew going in and out of the cockpit, and they need to be strong. The HR/Najad/Malo type screens are very tough. I removed and replaced the screen on my HR, and it was extremely heavy.

 

[FullCircle]

Becky,
I am in the middle of drawing up the spec for mine, which will be a two piece, joined at the centreline.

Thanks to Monsieur Andrieu, the styling on My Jeanneau gives very strong indicators from the side profile for the lines and curves particularly of the side view and how the screen tapers back to deck level.
I am fortunate in that there is already a base on the coachroof which the Saprayhood was designed to sit on, so the form will follow that from the top (plan) view.

I intend to use 12mm Makrolon, which is about 300 quid a sheet, but sadly I need 2 (just, dammit). This is the material our gallant Plod use for riot shield duties, and it has a good refractive index, good UV properties, excellent ultimate strength, and is very good at absorbing loads with good elastic deformation.
I intend to form this by constructing a plywood former on the boat to the correct shape, reinforcing and bracing it onto a heavy plywood base plate.

The next thing is to construct a simple shuttering plywood hotbox, insulated with Rockwell house insulation and a house stirrer fan with a 3kw heat source. Oh, and a Radio Spares thermometer. And 4 pairs of welders gloves. It needs to be able to soak the sheet of makrolon to 150c for about 1/2 an hour, then remove the sheet wearing the welders gloves, and get the lads to hold it steady while you roughly bend the sheet to the shape of the former. It will go cold, so dont get frantic. Return the unit and former to the hot box and leave to soak some more. Form it some more, and so on and so forth.....
You might want to practice the forming team on some thinner cheap perspex to get them used to the technique.

When you are satisfied, you can trim the screen where required with a jig saw, after careful marking out of course.
Repeat for the other side.

Aluminium extruded sections are available which can be cold worked to the shape you want for the bottom section of the screen, which is what retains it after screwing through to the coachroof. When you have the shape and profile you want, you vcan take iit to be anodised if you wish. If not, treat it with proprietary paints and primers. Should last for years.
Suggest Sikaflex 292 to seal the screen into place in the extrusion.
For rigidity over the top, and to seal. There is another extruded section which the sprayhood people use which is a bolt rope section to secure the sprayhood front edge into the screen groove. Again bend this to shape and seal to the screen.
You may want a forward Stainless Grabrail attached to ther screen. Your choice, and I suggest it goes inside so that it can be used when the sprayhood is folded forward.
Also, a standard Sprayhood stainless grabrail at the rear of the sprayhood, and leather bound would be nice.
Cant really imagine where the existing sprayhood would form to the right shape, but your situation may well be different.

I had a bloke at LIBS quote me over 5000 quid for the above. Pah.

 

[eowyn]

Hi Becky - A company used to advertise bespoke windscreens at the back of Yachting Monthly. If you keep back issues about 5 years ago, you may find their small ad. My memory remembers they were Houdini. Try http://www.houdini-marine.co.uk/ and phone them. Alternatively, buy a Halberg Rassy!!!

 

[FullCircle]

Houdini are in Southminster Essex, and will be able to make you a fixed flat screen ensemble. They dont do formings though. Very nice people though.