Replacement Hatch HR 352

Helvic hunter

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Hi. I am in the process of refurbishing a 1983 HR 352. has anybody ever replaced the 1)portlights and 2) the deck hatches on these boats and if so, what modern hatch and portlight (type and make) did you use. When all internet trawelling brings nothing but confusion, consult the forum.
 
Hi

I removed the portlights, and reglazed them with laminated glass, 7 years on no problems, look fine and really clear to see out of.

HR parts still supply hatches etc but these guys also manufacture parts.http://www.ertec.dk http://www.ometall.se/

PM me if you want more info on things I did that worked out....

By the way mine is for sale so if anyone wants a good cheap HR352.....

Regards

Tony.
 
I refitted the portlights in my HR38.

It took an impact screw-driver and a lot of care to free the 12 off 8mm countersunk screws retaining each window. Be careful not to break the inboard aluminim bezel, but if you do, it is not disastrous.

Mine were not in good condition so some recovery programme was required.

I made the mistake of having my removed frames and bezels sandblasted then etch-primed before coating them with two-pack polyurethane. It broke down within a couple of years.

Attempt two involved a repeat of the process but the frames and bezels were anodised before painting. It worked.

Hinges are a real issue. The Dutch firm that produced them do not do so any more. So I had some fixed brackets made to replace hinges where I did not intend to open the portlights, made the best of the hinges that were not broken or suspect, plus some I obtained from someone who was doing it the expensive way and fitting new stainless steel portlights. Maybe we can find some 3D printer company to produce some new nylon ones for us all.

Portlight windows - I have used Eberhardt Signs in Portsmouth to produce perspect cut perspex to size and to machine slots, holes adn grooves as necessary.

Hatches, well, I have not got as far as that yet but I understand that the original perspex was pressed in hydraulically. I was going to use two-pack polyurathane mastic to bed new perspex into the frames during the build-up from full dismantling.

I hope this helps.
 
Hi Tony,

I need to replace the hatch glass in my 1998 HR36 as they are all scratched ( particularly the front hatch ) and I'm interested in using laminated glass. Mine are Lewmar - what type are yours and how difficult was it to do compared with acrylic / and how did the cost cost compare

Thanks

Kevin
Hi

I removed the portlights, and reglazed them with laminated glass, 7 years on no problems, look fine and really clear to see out of.

HR parts still supply hatches etc but these guys also manufacture parts.http://www.ertec.dk http://www.ometall.se/

PM me if you want more info on things I did that worked out....

By the way mine is for sale so if anyone wants a good cheap HR352.....

Regards

Tony.
 
I need to replace the hatch glass in my 1998 HR36 as they are all scratched ( particularly the front hatch ) and I'm interested in using laminated glass. Mine are Lewmar - what type are yours and how difficult was it to do compared with acrylic / and how did the cost cost compare

Can't you get replacement toughened glass for them from HR Parts?
 
Were hatches ever fitted with toughened glass? Portlights were glass but acrylic has been used for a fair while now, unfortunately.

The HR Parts website says that Lewmar hatches fitted by HR used glass panels. The hatches on my 1990 boat are the originals, and are glazed with toughened glass made by Scanglas.
.
 
The HR Parts website says that Lewmar hatches fitted by HR used glass panels. The hatches on my 1990 boat are the originals, and are glazed with toughened glass made by Scanglas.
.

I think the HR parts site is using "glass" as in glazing, saying clear glazing used not tinted. It says replacement acrylic available. Are your hatches Lewmar or Bjerg/Gebo.
 
Hi Tony,

I need to replace the hatch glass in my 1998 HR36 as they are all scratched ( particularly the front hatch ) and I'm interested in using laminated glass. Mine are Lewmar - what type are yours and how difficult was it to do compared with acrylic / and how did the cost cost compare

Thanks

Kevin

I did not get around to doing the hatches, but if you are going to use glass in those you would need to use toughened or perhaps toughened laminated. You cannot use ordinary laminated glass as it will crack almost immediately.

I looked at replacing the perspex in the hatches and it looks like a relatively easy job. Getting out the old stuff will be the difficult part and I think if this was routed out of the frames it would only take a few hours to do all four of them.

Tony
 
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