Quotes for replacement windows!!!!

[Ammonite]

I don't wish to get into a discussion about the relative merits of acrylic versus polycarbonate but thought I'd relay my recent experience when obtaining quotes for replacement windows on my 28ft long keeler - I couldn't believe the variation.

These ranged from £190.76 ex VAT to £424.90 ex VAT for eight windows with rounded corners, 5mm fixing holes and a polished radius on one face in 10mm clear acrylic. Delivery ranged from a few days to 5 - 6 weeks for the most expensive quote.

The difference in 10mm polycarbonate was even greater, ranging from £291.50 ex VAT to £734.18 ex VAT. All of the suppliers were given the same information with the originals to be supplied as templates and the only material difference I could find is that the cheaper polycarbonate quote is based on Lexan Excell D (which still has a 10 year UV warranty)whereas the most expensive one was based on using Makrolon.

In the end I've gone with the cheapest polycarbonate quote (theplasticshop) and will let the forum know how they turn out in the next few days. The message for now though.....shop around.

What are the rules for naming and shaming on the forum....;-)

 

[VicS]

I reckon that if you listed all the quotes you recieved against the names of the firms providing those quotes there should no objections .. after all just posting plain unadulterated facts.

But i am not the one interpreting the rules and taking action on them.

Read the FORUM RULES ... see what you make of them.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

thought I'd relay my recent experience when obtaining quotes for replacement windows on my 28ft long keeler

whats the relevance of "long keeler" in a post about windows?

 

[Ammonite]

Not much. Just saves you asking what a Nebe Cape 28 is.....no one has heard of them.

 

[Colvic Watson]

Just saves you asking what a Nebe Cape 28 is.....no one has heard of them.

Isn't it a long keeled 28 footer? I know I've read that somewhere.

 

[Twister_Ken]

For non-standard items, prices are non-standard. So is quality. I hope you've got the cheapest and the best. but sometimes it doesn't work out that way.

 

[Csail]

seaglaze did a good job....google them.

 

[Ammonite]

Just thought I'd give the forum a quick update.....

In the end I decided not to go with the polycarbonate replacement windows mentioned in my first post. ThePlasticShop had given me a very competitive price but it turned out they could not produce the radius I wanted on the face of the windows, so in the end I asked them to return the windows along with a full refund. I'd be happy to use them again but only as a supplier of polycarbonate, acrylic etc rather than for their machining expertise

Much headscratching ensued as I was b@ggered if I was going to pay the £734 ex VAT one well known company wanted, or even the £425 ex Vat they wanted for Acrylic. It just didn't make sense to me to spend that much on a circa £10k boat - or is that because I've just shelled out £2k on a new furlex and sail from Crusader ;-) Anyway in the end I went for Alda Plastics. Their price for 8 windows in 10 mm tinted arcylic was £202 ex VAT and they turned them around in less than a week.

 

[VicS]

Not heard of Alda Plastics before.

£202 sounds like a remarkably good price.

I have made a note of the name for the next time someone asks

 

[Boo2]

In the end I've gone with the cheapest polycarbonate quote (theplasticshop) and will let the forum know how they turn out in the next few days.

Why did you prefer polycarbonate to perspex/acrylic may I ask ? I understood pc to be less uv resistant than ps/acrylic ?

Boo2

 

[Ammonite]

Boo2 - if you read down you will see I went for acrylic in the end. As I understand it there's very little to choose between them when it comes to UV - provided you go for a UV resistant polycarbonate (these typically have a 10 year guarantee). Polycarbonate is obviously much stronger but on reflection I decided that 10 mm acrylic was up to the job given that my windows are not exactly large (the largest apperture is about 500mm x 250mm). Cost was a major factor but polycarbonate is also a lot softer and therefore far less scratch resistant.

Others will argue the toss about the relative merits all day - but that was my logic and I'm sticking by it ;-)

 

[mitiempo]

There is nothing wrong with using acrylic. All major hatch manufacturers (except Bomar) use it, including Lewmar.

 

[Aja]

Although polycarbonate is as tough as old boots - it is used in trolley bay shelters/smoke shelters and bus stop shelters - it is used for the reasons of being almost inflammable and almost impossible to shatter.

However.... it is more susceptible to water exposure (will turn opaque) within a couple of years and it will scratch very easily.

As has been mentioned earlier, Lewmar et al use acrylic (Perspex, Altuglass etc) for a good reason.

Hope this helps.

Regards
Donald