Make my own washboards?

[Neeves]

If it were me, I don't have a jig saw nor fine toothed blade, I would take my existing wash board and ask an acrylic suppler for a quote, if you don't like the quote, walk away - I cannot believe there is a shortage of acrylic suppliers in UK - and if you walk away - maybe the supplier will re-consider his quote. If they have the kit to cut to size - its a quick and easy job. You don't need a fancy rebate if you want the washboard in 2 halves, top a bottom - you can easily glue a piece of acrylic as an overlap.

Now - if you were to have the need to replace lots of acrylic I'd suggest investing in the kit and practising on scrap acrylic - but for a one off - I'd bite the bullet and pay for the supplier to provide.

Not relevant but our helm station has a 2 part forward window - its hinged with an acrylic hinge - glued on. When its raining and hot we can hinge up the bottom half for ventilation but the hinged up part keeps most of the rain at bay. We had the window cut in 2 pieces, bought the hinge independently and glued it on ourselves.

Jonathan

 

[fredrussell]

Just to add, and apols if it’s already been mentioned, but bandsaw is good for cutting acrylic. I use a little hobby job and it’s great.

 

[DownWest]

Cut with a sharp woodblade in the jigsaw and squirt water along the cut to avoid overheating the swarf. Bit of washing up liquid seem to help. Smooth the edges and round them with a fine flap disc. As above, routers work well (in a table) Key is smooth action, so there is no chance of the edge biting and starting a crack.
Again, as above, low angle drills are less likely to bite and best done in a drill press for control.
I've had to trim and fit a/craft windscreens and the price of those makes you very careful.
No router? Then coarse wet & dry with a rubber block works well on the edges to tidy up and round edges.

If curving the acrilic, 120°C in an oven and it will drape over a mold.

 

[Gixer]

Thanks guys. I do have a Router and a Jigsaw.

 

[Gixer]

With the cost of the materials I bottled it in the end and had them made by Hadlow marine. Looks better than what I could do I think.

 

[neilf39]

Use clear acrylic and then use smoke grey car film. Comes in various transmission percentages. Much much cheaper than tinted acrylic.

 

[Neeves]

We had a hole drilled in one top corner, hand sized hole, big hole saw, and a cover slightly larger. The cover was simply bolted at the top. You can then use a lanyard to secure the washboards from inside or out (and similarly release). The cover simply flips to one side, as it is simply suspended on one small bolt, to allow you to stick your hand in, or out, to release the lanyard. Applicable only if you are racing as it is, or was, part of Cat 2 regs - and/or fear inversion.

Jonathan

 

[Graham376]

Yup was just thinking this - ours has a pronounced angle that I’m not sure how I’d reproduce DIY (assuming acrylic doesn’t like circular/table saws?!!).

Acrylic cuts easily on a table/cabinet saw with tct blade and cut curves with jigsaw or bandsaw at slow speed.

 

[eddystone]

Can recommend Nu Sign Marine in Mutley, Plymouth