Lexan Hatch Board source

[Jim Martin]

Does anyone know a good source for Lexan or acrylic hatch boards? I've made new ones from teak marine plywood several times and now I'm thinking of just having some made from Lexan. I called a local laser cutting service and was told their 2200-watt CO2 laser would leave a nasty edge on Lexan. He recommended plexiglas, but doesn't that scratch easily? He also said their laser could not make a beveled cut for the top edge of the bottom board or bottom edge of the top board. I left a voicemail with Beneteau USA to see if they sell them, but I doubt if they have them for older boats. I have a set of old boards I could send to a cutting service.

Thanks,

Jim
Aquila 32s5 

--

_ _

Jim Martin

Peachtree Laser, Inc.

404-352-2565

email: mailto:ptl...@bellsouth.net

website: peachtreelaser.com

[Bligh]

Jim, we replaced our hatch boards with Zarcor doors that come with inserts for screens, opaque and smoked lenses. No more looking for the boards when the rain monsters come

Cooper

Sent from Coopers' galactic communicator

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[Mark J Wilme]

I had new ones made for a Jeanneau 37 at a local place. Modern Plastics in RI. As I recall they were under $350

--

[Bill Jarvis]

Jim,

 

Lexan has a lot of good properties but one bad risk. It will disintegrate when exposed to many organic solvents especially if under any stress. You’d have to be very careful of what polishes and other cleaning solvents you uses. BTW screws whether self tapping or tapped cause enough stress to be a problem. Additionally Lexan is significantly more expensive than acrylic such as Plexiglass.

 

I believe that the Beneteau OEM product is acrylic.

 

Either Lexan or acrylic can be cut with common saws although there are specially ground tooth profiles for tablesaw blades for plastics. The edges of cut acrylics are often finished with a flame “polish”, ie the edges are exposed to direct immersion in a torch, quickly. It gives a beautiful finish.

 

Bill

[davidcfletcher]

Lexan is far stronger than acrylic Also more expensive.

Lexan scratches much easier as it is softer.

Bullet proof glass is polycarbonate. 

Lexan is the commercial name GE for polycarbonate. Bayer uses the ne Makrolon.

Plexiglass is a brand name for acrylic as is acrylite.

Beneteau used Lewmar for the hatches which has acrylic lens

The coach lights,drop boards are acyrlic.

FLETCH 

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-------- Original message --------

From: Mark J Wilme

Date:2014-06-16 10:30 AM (GMT-08:00)

To: benetea...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: {Beneteau Owners} Lexan Hatch Board source

I had new ones made for a Jeanneau 37 at a local place. Modern Plastics in RI. As I recall they were under $350

On Jun 16, 2014 1:01 PM, "Jim Martin" <ptl...@bellsouth.net> wrote:

[davidcfletcher]

The problem is finding acrylic that is the right color and thick enough

My drop boards are close to 5/8 of an inch in thickness and a special B green colour.

New Beneteau boards are close to 740.00

[LA S]

Jim

There is a place in New Rochelle New York you could try:

http://www.plasticworksusa.com/

Let us know how you make out.

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Quick to anger
Slow to understand
Ignorance and prejudice
And fear walk hand in hand....

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Do you feel more like you do now, then when you first got here?

[Kidd, James]

Also Select Plastics in Norwalk CT, who does all of the Lewmar ports (very well I may add…)

 

 

 

James A Kidd

Northeast Regional Manager

Jk...@kaydon.com

 

617-448-2575 cell/office

231-755-4102 fax

 

www.kaydonbearings.com

[Jim McCann]

Jim,

I spoke to Ward about the same thing a couple of weeks ago. They do have them! The cost sounds steep at about $650 for the pair. I am looking for the same thing, so, if you find someone that will make them, tell them it's for both of us and I'll do the same. I do believe Lexan is the way to go.

Jim

s/v Down Island

First 32s5

--

[Jim Martin]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. It's sounding like Lexan/polycarbonate may not necessarily be the best. Bill Jarvis' concerns regarding screws & solvents could be a significant issue.

Just one opinion that says Lexan is less UV resistant and also scratches:
http://www.plasticgenius.com/2011/08/plexiglass-vs-lexan-matchup.html

Jim McCann, $650 for a pair of hatch boards does seem too pricey. I would just make another set from teak plywood - I may have enough for two sets. I'm not on a music tour this summer & have more time.

Another possibility: there is a company called Perfect Edge next-door to my shop. They do water jet cutting and say they can cut either acrylic or polycarbonate. They can't make a beveled cut for the edge between the boards, but I could do that with a table saw. I'm going to take some old hatch boards by to show them tomorrow & will let you know what they say. If we go with acrylic, the laser cutting place may be a good choice.

http://www.lasertechatlanta.com/plastic.htm

Jim

_ _

Jim Martin

Peachtree Laser, Inc.

404-352-2565

email: mailto:ptl...@bellsouth.net

website: peachtreelaser.com

[S/V Slainte; First 310]

I too have the Zarcor doors and love them. Inserts clear, smoked and screens. Pull them at the end of the sail/weekend and put in the hatchboards. The Zarcors are in whenever we are on board.
. 

On Monday, June 16, 2014 12:15:55 PM UTC-5, hco...@gvtc.com wrote:

Jim, we replaced our hatch boards with Zarcor doors that come with inserts for screens, opaque and smoked lenses. No more looking for the boards when the rain monsters come

Cooper

Sent from Coopers' galactic communicator

On Jun 16, 2014, at 1:01 PM, Jim Martin <ptl...@bellsouth.net> wrote:

Does anyone know a good source for Lexan or acrylic hatch boards? I've made new ones from teak marine plywood several times and now I'm thinking of just having some made from Lexan. I called a local laser cutting service and was told their 2200-watt CO2 laser would leave a nasty edge on Lexan. He recommended plexiglas, but doesn't that scratch easily? He also said their laser could not make a beveled cut for the top edge of the bottom board or bottom edge of the top board. I left a voicemail with Beneteau USA to see if they sell them, but I doubt if they have them for older boats. I have a set of old boards I could send to a cutting service.

Thanks,

Jim
Aquila 32s5 

--

_ _

Jim Martin

Peachtree Laser, Inc.

404-352-2565

email: mailto:...@bellsouth.net

website: peachtreelaser.com

[Jim Martin]

For anyone who has Lexan or acrylic hatch boards, can you tell me if the horizontal edges between the 2 or 3 boards are straight cut or are they beveled to prevent water intrusion?

Thanks!

_ _

Jim Martin

Peachtree Laser, Inc.

404-352-2565

email: mailto:ptl...@bellsouth.net

website: peachtreelaser.com

[Noble, Milner E.]

Mine are sort of a single version of tongue-and-groove idea.  Works fine.

--Milner

 

From: benetea...@googlegroups.com [mailto:benetea...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jim Martin
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 4:25 PM
To: benetea...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: {Beneteau Owners} Lexan Hatch Board source

 

For anyone who has Lexan or acrylic hatch boards, can you tell me if the horizontal edges between the 2 or 3 boards are straight cut or are they beveled to prevent water intrusion?

Thanks!

[Mark J Wilme]

Mine are OEM and 45 degree bevel

I made starboard ones for our prior boat and just routed a rabbit  on those. Both work

Mark Wilme
Mark....@Gmail.com

+1 (508) 826 5607

www.linkedin.com/in/markwilme            

[Dragon...@aol.com]

Our's are beveled...about a 45 degree angle between the 2....works great.

 

Dean & Bonnie
s/v Dragonfly
B331 #214
/) /) /) /) /)
~~~~~~~~~~

[Jeffrey Schwartz]

They should be cut on 45 degree angle so water does not get in.

 

Jeffrey Schwartz

 

From: benetea...@googlegroups.com [mailto:benetea...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jim Martin
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 4:25 PM
To: benetea...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: {Beneteau Owners} Lexan Hatch Board source

 

For anyone who has Lexan or acrylic hatch boards, can you tell me if the horizontal edges between the 2 or 3 boards are straight cut or are they beveled to prevent water intrusion?

Thanks!

[LA S]

 beveled

96 42s7

[lawrence schneider]

Mine also are beveled.

 

                Larry

 

                Dragon3

[rm]

Mine are original as supplied by Beneteau and are cut at 45 degree angle to prevent water ingress.

Rod

Windswept

361

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[Bill Jarvis]

Angled.

 

Bill

 

From: benetea...@googlegroups.com [mailto:benetea...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Jim Martin
Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 4:25 PM
To: benetea...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: {Beneteau Owners} Lexan Hatch Board source

 

For anyone who has Lexan or acrylic hatch boards, can you tell me if the horizontal edges between the 2 or 3 boards are straight cut or are they beveled to prevent water intrusion?

Thanks!

[B F-405]

I bought polycarbonate from a local plastic shop and made them at home. The stuff is cheap (relative to teak!) and amazingly easy to work with using jig saw, circular saw, table saw, sanders or router. Colors are all standard green and grey being most common. Oversize slightly any through holes you drill and seal with RTV silicone. Keep the protective paper on until you are done. To get non through bolt screws to hold, drill a slightly undersized hole then heat the screw with a mini torch hot enough to melt the poly. Screw it in slowly and give it a water spritz and you have a threaded hole! As mentioned by others, take a bernzomatic type soldering torch and quickly pass the flame over the edges for a nice finish.