Perspex washboards

seanfoster

seanfoster

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I decided to give my marine ply washboards a bit of a spruce up, but after sanding them they have started delaminating, so I'm thinking about replacing them with perspex/acrylic/polycorbonate (someone put me right which is the best type?!)

Can anyone suggest a good supplier and an approximate cost for this job?

The existing boards slide into an 8mm groove, so I guess this would have to be the thickness?
 
It is all said in the link in Racecruisers post but if we knew where you are it might be possible to suggest somewhere in your area.

For something as thin as 8mm I think I'd opt for polycarbonate rather than acrylic.

Ah boat on Windy Mere. Eagle boat windows www.eagleboatwindows.co.uk perhaps.

Maybe Lakesailor will be able to suggest somewhere.
 
Most DIY shops will sell a UV stabilised version - so nothing special really. Non-UV stabilised may go brittle ....

Also note that many names are actually brand or trade names rather than different product.
 
As Refueller points out most of the familiar names are trade names for either acrylic (polymethylmethacrylate or PMMA to be more precise) or for polycarbonate.

trade names for acrylic include Perspex, Plexiglas, Altuglas.

trade names for polycarbonate include Makrolon, Lexan, Marlon.

Polycarbonate is, I think, more expensive, especially with a scratch resistant finish

Refueller may like to extend the lists
 
I had polycarbonate boards cut for my Centaur and they were a great success. However scratching is an issue. I kept the original wooden boards for times when we wanted the privacy, darkness or were not on board but the polycarbonates made a huge difference on cooler miserable days.
 
If you have a signmaker in your town (most seaside towns have) you should find plastic sheet easy to find.

Polycarbonate goes by the trade names of Macrolon and Lexan and is the strongest (and expensive), but is not very resistant to scratching.

Acrylic, best known as Perspex and Plexiglass (mostly available in europe) Both these manufacturers print their logo's on the best side of the sheet (you'll be lucky to see the difference), whilst Indian and South American grades are plain. Acrylic has better light transmission properties, but suffers from surface crazing which does not affect the structural integrity of the sheet but can look undesirable. Surface tension causes crazing by bending the sheet without annealing and/or damage by UV and solvents. Make sure you buy cast and not extruded which will crack and fail under solvent attack and absorbs moisture. Thicknesses commonly stocked is 3mm 4mm 5mm 6mm and 10mm. You could use 10mm and rebate the edge with a router to get the 8mm you require. UV stabilised and impact resistant grades are manufactured by ICI (perspex). Edges should be polished with wet and dry or a scraper. Flame polishing looks best but induces stress in the sheet and will be the beginnings of crazing in the future.

Working with either Polycarbonate or Acrylic use normal wood working tools (hand or electric), but make sure all cutting tools are sharp.

Some clear sheet sold in the warehouses is Styrene sheet, easy to work but wholly unsuitable for your needs.

You could try the small ads in the back of the magazines where several companies advertise, find someone who fabricates sheet and you will get good advice.
 
To reduce abrasion and make the washboards stronger and easier to secure fit a hardwood rail to the top edge, about 63 x32mm. with a slot routered into the bottom to take the polycarbonate. Plane the top edge to drain outward and round off. This means if the board is laid flat the plastic surface is not in contact. If using acrylic or polcarbonate it is well worth making a dedicated storage rack in a cockpit locker. Mine is simply two vertical battens screwed to the inside wall of the locker each with two slots to take the edges of the boards. This takes up no room and so far I have had no scratches. (but saying this now is tempting fate)
 
Slight thread drift, Just dont do what i did and accidently put the kettle down on your perspex washboard, if anyone asks i tell them the melted circle can be used in conjuction with a drywipe marker to calculate the tides, but now you know the real reason...Matt
 
I priced up a polycarbonate door for the cat while in france and the supplier wanted 400 + euro for the door alone, I manage to buy an 8' x 4' sheet of a purple tint 'polycarbonate' which I have cut the door from, and brought two large pieces home one of which I will be making washboards for a Konsort , the other I will be selling, will need the edges rebating to fit your groove, but I will be trying to do that with a router for the Konsort.
measures 5' x 2'3"x 15mm
I understand you based at windy mere, I get through to Wigan area from north wales if that assists collection /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Make me an offer if its any use to you /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
I was looking at a sheet of twin wall at 8mm thickness other day .. had nice blue tint ... light came through - but you couldn't see clearly through it ... UV resistant ... supplied for cloche / grrenhouse use ... seriously wondering whether to use it for washboards !!
 
polycarbonate is what you want one trade name is lexan there is a chap on ebay selling off cuts or you could try a plastic fabricators.
 
Thanks so much everyone for your responses, it certainly has answered my questions.

BTW I'm based in Derbyshire and got the boat on my drive so launching the boat on Windermere in May.

Tabernacle Man, I'll have a look round locally, but may take your offer up if I cant find a good deal!
 
If you can't find what you need locally you might try QD Plastics in Dumbarton. The owner is a yachtsman and his company can make replacement washboards and just about anything else in a range of plastic materials.
His website is here.

No connection, other than as a satisfied customer!
 
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