Storm Boards for Windows?

[Tim Good]

Does anyone have any experience making something like this. I fancy making some for my deck saloon windows before doing some serious passages.

Seems straight forward but a few Q's:

1. How thick should they be ideally?
2. What material is ideal?
3. What fixing types are good? Quick release to remove and install easily would be good.
4. Would a laminated type be an option - i.e. like a car window so it may break but still stay in tact.

 

[Daydream believer]

9mm polycarbonate sheet
Ok to cut & drill but a bit stiff if you have to bend much. if you want a reasonable curve try 6mm

 

[Roberto]

Not exactly what you are looking for, anyway I made these sets of plywood boards to be used in case the "glass" of the opening ports breaks.
They cannot be used to protect the hatches, only to close the hole in case the transparent plastic breaks.
The size is slightly bigger than the rectangle of the transparent, the two wooden bars are set inside the boat, the bolt tightened to lock the wooden board in place.

 

[sarabande]

rather than permanent screw fastenings, how about Dzus fasteners to make the windows quickly removeable when not needed. ?


http://www.specialty-fasteners.co.uk/

 

[Jamesuk]

Pretty awesome idea. On a big superyacht we had aluminium storm shutters.

I would suggest a neoprene seal to cover around the shutter for added protection on heavy seas. (I'm saying that because I have a leaky hatches)

 

[prv]

I would suggest a neoprene seal to cover around the shutter for added protection on heavy seas. (I'm saying that because I have a leaky hatches)

If I'd had a window stove in, I would be very happy to have been able to roughly cover it with plywood, and not worry about small leaks

I'm not crossing oceans, so I don't have any dedicated boards. But I do have lots of removable under-bunk locker lids that are my planned source of emergency-repair plywood, and my damage-control kit includes a few lengths of studding and some wing-nuts and big washers, to be able to knock up something similar to Roberto's picture above.

Pete

 

[geem]

If I'd had a window stove in, I would be very happy to have been able to roughly cover it with plywood, and not worry about small leaks

I'm not crossing oceans, so I don't have any dedicated boards. But I do have lots of removable under-bunk locker lids that are my planned source of emergency-repair plywood, and my damage-control kit includes a few lengths of studding and some wing-nuts and big washers, to be able to knock up something similar to Roberto's picture above.

Pete

It's worth having one all purpose shutter made so you can cover an opening quickly without resorting to DIY in the middle of what could possibly be the worst conditions you have ever been in. Conditions where you are taking green water over the boat is not the time to be thinking, where is my jigsaw.

 

[vyv_cox]

Not sure whether Daydream Believer was suggesting polycarbonate as emergency shutters or as a permanent modification. I would go for the second. Your windows appear to be somewhat on the light side and probably with too few fastenings for heavy weather. Rather than mess about with patchups to repair a likely problem, why not make them right beforehand? 8 or 10 mm polycarbonate well fixed will resist anything the sea can throw at it.

 

[MrB]

Get some made up in Lexan, virtually unbreakable. Manufacturers of race/rally car windows would be able to make you some.

or these guys..... http://www.gcip.co.uk/FAB/boat_car_windows.htm

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Not sure whether Daydream Believer was suggesting polycarbonate as emergency shutters or as a permanent modification. I would go for the second. Your windows appear to be somewhat on the light side and probably with too few fastenings for heavy weather. Rather than mess about with patchups to repair a likely problem, why not make them right beforehand? 8 or 10 mm polycarbonate well fixed will resist anything the sea can throw at it.

I think OP was showing that photo as an example of what he had seen elsewhere and wanted to try on his boat.

I agree about the fixings in the picture. A hefty dollop of water could easily get behind the plastic and rip it all off.

TBH the thickness of material depends on the size of the windows and, as we haven't been told that we can only guess.

 

[prv]

It's worth having one all purpose shutter made so you can cover an opening quickly without resorting to DIY in the middle of what could possibly be the worst conditions you have ever been in. Conditions where you are taking green water over the boat is not the time to be thinking, where is my jigsaw.

How can I have one all-purpose shutter when the openings are all different shapes and sizes?

It would have to be sized to cover the biggest deck opening - the forehatch. Well, as it happens, most of the locker tops are more or less exactly the right size for that. There are also a couple of smaller ones, and one much larger. They have finger holes in them which will take my studding and washers. I didn't mention that I also have the battens for the inside pre-drilled.

I think that's more than enough preparation for a coastal Channel cruiser.

Pete

 

[geem]

How can I have one all-purpose shutter when the openings are all different shapes and sizes?

It would have to be sized to cover the biggest deck opening - the forehatch. Well, as it happens, most of the locker tops are more or less exactly the right size for that. There are also a couple of smaller ones, and one much larger. They have finger holes in them which will take my studding and washers. I didn't mention that I also have the battens for the inside pre-drilled.

I think that's more than enough preparation for a coastal Channel cruiser.

You said you were doing serious passages. If you are only cruising the Channel why do you need storm shutters? Weather forecasts are good enough these days that you should be able to avoid serious weather on Channel crossings and the such like. I wouldn't bother at all if this is your cruising ground

 

[lustyd]

and my damage-control kit includes a few lengths of studding and some wing-nuts and big washers, to be able to knock up something similar to Roberto's picture above.

And presumably a hand drill to make the holes after the cordless one goes swimming

 

[vyv_cox]

You said you were doing serious passages. If you are only cruising the Channel why do you need storm shutters? Weather forecasts are good enough these days that you should be able to avoid serious weather on Channel crossings and the such like. I wouldn't bother at all if this is your cruising ground

There are plenty of ways to hole a window without relying on a wave to do it for you. Pushing a spinnaker pole through one might be quite likely, or even falling heavily. Plastic materials like Perspex can become quite brittle after a while.

 

[prv]

You said you were doing serious passages.

No I didn't. I said:

I'm not crossing oceans, so I don't have any dedicated boards.

If you are only cruising the Channel why do you need storm shutters? [...] I wouldn't bother at all if this is your cruising ground

Make your mind up. First you say that my just-in-case precautions are inadequate, then you say I shouldn't bother at all.

D-minus for reading comprehension.

Pete

 

[geem]

Apologies, I was referring to the OPs comments regarding serious cruising. I slight mix up I will go with D minus!




Make your mind up. First you say that my just-in-case precautions are inadequate, then you say I shouldn't bother at all.

D-minus for reading comprehension.

Pete[/QUOTE]

 

[Ruffles]

We have storm boards to cover the side windows in an emergency. They are designed to go either side. Otherwise we would need four which would be too much storage for us. They are only useable when the original window has gone.

They are plywood with a raised edge and a rubber seal. T bar and wingnuts on the inside.

 

[KellysEye]

>Storm Boards for Windows?

Unless you intend to sail in the Southern ocean I wouldn't bother. In six and a half years away we never needed them or the plywood boards. The maximum wind speed we had was 50 knot gusts over Biscay and slightly less, 45, in the Atlantic.

 

[NormanS]

>Storm Boards for Windows?

Unless you intend to sail in the Southern ocean I wouldn't bother. In six and a half years away we never needed them or the plywood boards. The maximum wind speed we had was 50 knot gusts over Biscay and slightly less, 45, in the Atlantic.

Gosh! I've had several periods of 60+knots, and one prolonged gust of 74knots, in the Outer Hebrides. Who needs the Southern Ocean?

 

[Hoolie]

Well, our smallish windows are IMO totally inadequate for strong weather. They appear similar to the photo shown on the OP and have cosmetic aluminium - yes, aluminium - bolt heads all round They're (almost) fixed with Sikaflex I guess as one of them leaks.

So the idea of fitting permanent polycarbonate "storm boards" is very attractive, especially since they are all flat. Given the leak and gunge getting down behind the boards I think a neoprene seal would be needed. Thanks!