RE: new hatch cover

Eric Johnson (etj@nwlink.com)
Wed, 8 Dec 1999 07:00:56 -0800


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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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> T.J.
>
> My understanding is that Lexan is tougher than plexiglass (much harder to
> break), but that it scratches more easily than plexiglass.
>
> Anyone know for sure which is right? When one of my side windows cracked I
> had Tap Plastics make me two new ones of smoked Lexan (polycarbonate?).
> I've only replaced the cracked Plexiglass (acrylic) one so far. Haven't
> noticed any excessive scratching on the Lexan, and it's been on the boat
> for several years now, but someone here (Dik Richardson?) reported his
> Lexan deteriorated very quickly.

My understanding, (dare I say it? from Don Casey's book) is that lexan is
superior in every regard except price. He particularly likes Lexan's
resistance to internal crazing. He goes on to outline a project to cut out
the top of a fiberglass hatch and replace it with smoked lexan/polycarbonate
to allow more light down below. Like everything else in that book, it seems
quite simple the way he explains it.

I will probably do a similar project for my forward hatch, but I will likely
just build a new frame altogether and make it from varnished mahogany. I
think another splash of brightwork (or bluework, if you're Tim :) would look
nice up on the foredeck. I think I'll also make an acrylic canvas cover for
it to keep varnish maintenance to a minimum and to help prevent the points
brought up about UV and wood rot.