Replacement Boat Glass Window

[C08]

I have a broken front side window that I need to replace. The broken window is laminated glass that was badly cracked in the inner layer but unbroken in the outer (a berthing incident from a neighghbouring boat whose anchor kissed my window). I was impressed with the resistance to breaking with a hammer when I tried to remove the broken glass before removing the frame and even after quite a battering the broken window remained intact and was still probably watertight.
I believe many boat windows are toughened glass so I suppose this is another option.
What is the view of laminated versus toughened glass for boat windows and any ideas of sources for supply of the glass, prefererably in the NW are welcomed.

 

[Concerto]

You could try Eagle Windows. www.eagleboatwindows.co.uk

If you are happy to fit the glass yourself to the frame, then most glass merchants should be able to supply laminated glass from stock or toughened glass to order.

 

[vyv_cox]

I bought a pair of toughened windows for the windscreens of my motorsailer from VGC (vehicle glass company) . They will make to size as required. I drew up the dimensions, including holes for wipers, using Powerpoint and they supplied including adhesives. Excellent to deal with. I chose 4 mm, which is the same as in sliding doors of vans.

They are in the Midlands I think but everything was done on line and they delivered by courier.

 

[coopec]

I wanted windows in the fore-cabin but there was not a lot of room for a frame so I had some toughened glass cut and glued them on to the hull. I'm told that's what they do with production boats these days. (Of course all motor car windscreens are glued in these days too)

Clive

 

[rogerthebodger]

I had 2 sheets of toughened glass laminated together so that the window is harder to break but will stay intact once broken.

A single pain of toughened glass will break into small pieces and leave a hole the size of your window to let water in.

BYW you cannot cut toughened glass it is heat treated after cutting to size. If you try to cut it will shatter in to small pieces.

 

[chrishscorp]

Toughened glass is stronger than laminated, however it is designed to break safely into small bits, fine in a car but where you have the risk of downflooding i would want laminated. Laminated will crack but will remain intact as you have found out

If you are happy to do the job yourself any decent glazier will be able to supply you a replacement, the old one could be used as a template, and if i was doing the job i would ask the glazier to take a diamond sanding pad and ease the edges, it will save you leaking blood all over the topsides

 

[coopec]

I had 2 sheets of toughened glass laminated together so that the window is harder to break but will stay intact once broken.

A single pain of toughened glass will break into small pieces and leave a hole the size of your window to let water in.

BYW you cannot cut toughened glass it is heat treated after cutting to size. If you try to cut it will shatter in to small pieces.

The supplier of the toughened safety glass said I could hit the glass with a steel hammer and it would not break BUT the Achilles heel is that if it is hit on the edge with a hammer it will shatter.

You say you "cannot cut TSG as it is heat treated after cutting to size". Agreed but it was cut to size before they supplied it to me.

Construction
Fixed windows cut from toughened safety glass. Framed direct-glazed sliders and Gebo/Hopper style windows have fully-welded joints.
Glazing
Any thickness T.S.G. can be used for fixed panels. All direct-glazed style glasses have a black "fretwork" baked onto the glazing area for adhesion and aesthetic purposes.

Clive