Lewmar deck hatches

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brians

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I am looking at a boat that has Lewmar deck hatches and am surprised at the degree of crazing in the Perspex. These are around only 14 years old.

The Gebo's on my current boat are several years older and remain crystal clear with only minor surface scratches.

Are Lewmar hatches a known problem?
 
brians said:
I am looking at a boat that has Lewmar deck hatches and am surprised at the degree of crazing in the Perspex. These are around only 14 years old.

The Gebo's on my current boat are several years older and remain crystal clear with only minor surface scratches.

Are Lewmar hatches a known problem?
Click to expand...

I just replaced the Acrylic (Perspex) in my two Lewmar hatches (about £50 for the two if you DIY) which were crazed after 17 years. Surprisingly despite the crazing, i could not break the acrylic that i took out despite jumping on it over a strip of timber. It would certainly be interesting to know what Gebo use. The other material that may be used is polycarbonate but although tougher, does scratch easier and some polycarbonate goes yellow with age. Polycarbonate is what car headlights use.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Can I ask where you got your perspex from at £50 for two? I need to replace Gebo perspex that got broken in transit!
 
Seateach chandlery at Emsworth Hants do a good range of hatches inc Lewmar - and all the spares bits.

NB they are away at the boat show until Jan 16th - I found out today when ringing about something else, but their website shows the hatches and spares.

http://www.seateach.com/hatchesandportlights.html

I have replaced 2 Lewmar Ocean forehatches, about 10 years each before lots of crazing; though as Plum says the perspex still seemed incredibly strong.
 
Tim O said:
Can I ask where you got your perspex from at £50 for two? I need to replace Gebo perspex that got broken in transit!
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I did one average size hatch and one small one. Got the 10mm thick acrylic cut to size with the corners radiussed (i just had to cut the catch/stay fastening holes myself) from https://www.simplyplastics.com . I did not have to pay postage as i live nearby. I bought the doublesided closedcell foam tape to bed them down on from ebay for less than £5 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221475568278?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT and a tube of black Dow 792 silicone sealant for about £9

Edit: the doublesided tape forms the main bond. With care you can fit the tape to the frame around the radiussed corners without cutting it or getting it puckered. Peel off the backing and lower the acrilic onto the tape with an even gap all round. Once it touches the tape it is very difficult to reposition it. Then clamp the acrylic to the frame with lots of clamps and wood packing pieces to firmly adhere it to the tape. Leave for 24hours, then remove the clamps, mask up and squert in the silicone mastic being careful not to trap any air pockets. I did all this at home after removing the hatch lids and fitting temporary plywood covers.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
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Tim O said:
Can I ask where you got your perspex from at £50 for two? I need to replace Gebo perspex that got broken in transit!
Click to expand...

And me please! a very nice man at Sibs was doing them but wanted £170 each

Ah beat me to it!
Stu
 
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When I bought my boat the front Lewmar hatch was crazed. The surveyor said that he had previously condemned crazed hatches. However he took an old one home that was badly crazed and tried to break it with a sledgehammer. He failed. He came to the conclusion that the crazing is cosmetic and the crazed hatches are generally sound.

I kept the hatch but have replaced it this winter with a Bainbridge hatch. The 600 x 600 fits perfectly and was less than half the price of a new Lewmar and about the same as reglazing the old one.
 
I also replaced crazed Perspex windows in my previous boat - 6mm thick from memory. I also had to use a lump hammer with the Perspex in a 6" engineers vice - it took several blows. Since then I'm quite happy to keep my crazed Lewmar hatches. I'll possibly replace the Perspex at some time using the method outlined by plum.
 
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