[MHml] windshield glazing

[CaptRon]

I used acrylic for my windows.  It may not be as bullet proof as polycarbonate but it is still plenty strong.  It is harder than poly and can be polished.  It does need some care in drilling (I used a specially sharpened bit in a drill press) as any "breakout" leaves small fractures that can and will extend into the pane sooner or later.  The edges should be polished for the same reason.  Any small chip or crack can eventually cause the entire pane to break.

Also If you have anything other than a very mild curve, acrylic should be preformed with heat.  On my forward windows which curve about .5" over a 28" span, I blocked the panel up at the ends, and put a weight in the middle and left the panel in the sun for a couple of days. A friend of mine did his windows by actually making plywood molds and had a local plastics place use their ovens to form his windows.

I would also say that I think thicker is better.  If you think 1/2 inch is thick enough, go for the 5/8" instead.

"Peter M. Garcia" wrote:

> The canvas dodger on our Newick 36' Tricia tri is rarely down, so we're building a foam core hard dodger which will provide secure grabrails and a place on the roof for a solar panel, in addition to shelter in the cockpit.  Glazing the wraparound windshield is a challenge.  Auto safety glass is safe, strong, optically good, and durable, but heavy.    Polycarbonate (Lexan) is bulletproof and light but, I'm told, subject to optical deterioration from abrasion.  Understand acrylic is light, optically excellent, and can be polished to remove scratches, but not nearly as strong as polycarbonate.  What's the right choice?  Free advice from those more knowledgeable gratefully accepted.
>
> Multihull content?  Only fast boats need hard dodgers.
>
>
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