Replacing wooden hatch for Acrylic !

[gordhouse]

I'm looking to change my existing wooden door cockpit / cabin to acrylic .

I'm not sure if acrylic is the best plastic to use, or if there are better modern day materials that would be more suited.

It would need to be opaque or smoked not clear or see through.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Plum]

I'm looking to change my existing wooden door cockpit / cabin to acrylic .

I'm not sure if acrylic is the best plastic to use, or if there are better modern day materials that would be more suited.

It would need to be opaque or smoked not clear or see through.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Acrylic is fine. You could use polycarbonate which is stronger but not as scratch resistant and more expensive. In either case, you need to ensure you get the appropriate grade of material that has uv inhibitors in it otherwise it will degrade in the sun after about 4 years. If you get arcylic I recommend you get the Perspex brand (look for the brand name printed on the protective film) which they claim has a 10 year outdoors weathering guarantee and will probably be good for twice that in the UK. I got mine machined to size at simplyplastics.com but there are many others.

www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Bandit]

This gives you the pros/conshttps://www.theplasticpeople.co.uk/blog/the-differences-between-acrylic-and-polycarbonate/#:~:text=15%3A13%3A58-,Acrylic%20vs%20Polycarbonate,is%20bendier%20and%20virtually%20unbreakable.

I have used polycarbonate as a replacement to crazed perspex , flat sheet in deck hatches.

I previously used it for windows in fast passenger hydrofoils.

Glass toughened is very heavy and shatters with a tap in the wrong place.

Perspex is cheap reasonably durable but weak, after exposure to the sun it crazes and weakens.

Ploycarbonate, Lexan or Macrolon etc or other brands is virtually indistructable , I have tried with a full size wood axe to cut 8mm strips and Icould not, it is used in bullet proof glass , riot shields etc.
The problem is it is relatively soft and scratches. If you through bolt it in a frame against a rubber seal don't drill the holes too tight to the bolt size, ie sloppy hole and sealant, under tension it can fracture.

polycarbonate is amazing if correctly fitted.

 

[Rappey]

When i leave my boat i put in the wooden washboards but if im onbard i use smoked perspex as its nice to see out and have the extra light .
Its 5mm thick with wooden battons on the edges to take up the slack... Would never keep a wave out but great for when it rains.

 

[gordhouse]

Many thanks for your replies.