Double glazing on a boat, retro-fitted.

[fredrussell]

Anyone ever added a layer of acrylic to make double glazed windows in a boat. I use boat year round in U.K. and get a lot of condensation on windows after a night aboard. I have some tatty but sound acrylic sheet and my plan would be to stick cut-to-size acrylic sheets to existing alloy window frames using (I think) butyl tape. Does butyl come off clean after a winters use I wonder? Also, will butyl tape alone hold the weight of acrylic do you think? Windows approx 120mm x 20mm x 8mm (acrylic width).

 

[vyv_cox]

Yes, did this when in the Netherlands, weekending throughout the winter. Quite effective, although I only used Blu-tack to hold them in.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I have not but have seen linings, frames that have insert profiles for extra glazing / plastic. This is used in cold climates for exactly the reasons you looking for. It was mentioned on www.morganscloud.com, which is a subscription service. However, the site owner is selling the boat and has videos of the interior (saloon) which are free to view and he discusses thus feature.

Butyl tape might work but it also creeps under load if the weight is too much and temperature too high. Solvent will clean it off. There are other tapes with good adhesion, double sided that would work.

 

[BabaYaga]

Also, will butyl tape alone hold the weight of acrylic do you think? Windows approx 120mm x 20mm x 8mm (acrylic width).

Rather small windows... And fat acrylic. I think 0.8mm would be more suitable if you want it to be held by butyl tape alone...

 

[NormanS]

Many years ago, when I had a big boat with a deckhouse, there was a very cheap form of double glazing available. It was some type of polythene sheeting, which was applied using double sided sticky tape. A hair drier was then wafted over the sheeting, tightening it up. It worked well in the winter, but I always took it off in the Spring.
My present smaller boat, with a deck saloon, has proper double glazing sealed units. I would now never have anything less.

 

[fredrussell]

Rather small windows... And fat acrylic. I think 0.8mm would be more suitable if you want it to be held by butyl tape alone...

Good point. It is heavy stuff but it’s free! I’ll look into some of that foam double sided tape, though my suspicions are that it’ll be a sod to remove after being on there a few months.

 

[andyj301]

If theyre not opening windows is it worth doing something permanent? Will save having to store the extra sheets in the summer.

 

[Iliade]

How about industrial strength velcro? Use a bit of string to separate the panel come summer and the velcro left on the frames can then be peeled off.

 

[michael_w]

Yes, I've done this using the magnetic strip system available from your local sheet plastic supplier. In my case, Ipswich Plastics. They also supplied the acrylic sheet too.