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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Lexan Window Replacement

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jesse camp
1st Mate

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USA
84 Posts

Initially Posted - 01/05/2005 : 11:31:51

I have a cracked lexan window, anyone know who I can get a replacement from? Thanks

Sea Trekker, 86 SK/SR #5550

Jesse Camp

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/05/2005 : 12:04:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jesse camp
 I have a cracked lexan window, anyone know who I can get a replacement from? Thanks <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Is it Lexan or tempered glass?

Edited by - on

jesse camp
1st Mate

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USA
84 Posts

Response Posted - 01/05/2005 : 12:38:39

Dunno, I am under the immpression that the standard for the 86-89
windows are lexan.
Jesse

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 01/05/2005 : 13:46:48

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jesse camp
 Dunno, I am under the immpression that the standard for the 86-89
windows are lexan.
Jesse

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

You are probably right...My 1980 has tempered glass.

Can anyone confirm?

Edited by - on

atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 01/05/2005 : 15:10:08

If it is all one piece and does not leak it is the plexiglass/lexan window. You could call CD and see if they offer replacements. Another avenue would be a local plasic fabricator who could make an exact duplicate. The 3rd option would be to make it yourself. You would still need the plastic and the knowledge and tools to cut it.

Someone should find out how much it would be to get 15 or 20 sets made. I would be interested as mine on my 88 are pretty crazed.

Tom.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 01/05/2005 : 15:41:40

If you can't get it through normal channels, try this web site - selectplastics.com, or phone (203) 866-3767. This is the North American approved facility for Lewmar hatches.

If you want to make the repair yourself try Midland Plastics at midlandplastics.com. They will cut your "acrylic" hatch window to your specs. you can also send your hatch in for repair. They will replace gaskets and provide a no-leak warrenty as well, when they rebuild a hatch.

By the way, I pulled the following from the January Sailing magazine Boat Doctor section. Lexan is a brand name for the material polycarbonate and Plexigalss is brand name for acrylic sheet. Polycarbonate is stronger than acrtylic for the same thickness but its strength and clarity will degrade faster than acrylic. Acrylic is more scratch resistant, better resistant to cleaning chemicals and less expensive than polycarbonate. Acrylic is the preferred material for hatches.

Hope this helps

Al
GALLIVANT #5801

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existentialsailor
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1180 Posts

Response Posted - 01/05/2005 : 18:29:55

Acrylic tends to get brittle when it gets cold and makes it more likely to crack. PC is preferred in the colder climates despites it's other deficits.

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Daniel
1st Mate

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78 Posts

Response Posted - 01/05/2005 : 18:55:58

I have a 1980 with tempered safety glass windows. I brought the old cracked window (after disassembling from the frame) to an autoglass repair shop. They cut a new one from 3/8" similar glass... like new now. Not all shops had the right thickness. After calling around, I found the one just a mile away had it (the last place I thought to check!).

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Capt. Kurt
Navigator

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185 Posts

Response Posted - 01/05/2005 : 20:09:27

If you cant find a supplier for Lexan, you might want to try a hot rod website.
They use it for their windows too. I bought a 4ft x 2ft x 1/4in sheet for about $150.

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Bruce Ebling
Navigator

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USA
155 Posts

Response Posted - 01/05/2005 : 23:02:35

Can Lexan or plexiglasss be worked with a router? If it can it doesn't seem like it would be too difficult to make a pattern from the old windows and use a pattern bit to make exact copies. I believe there is an article in "Good Old Boat" July/August 2003. In the article the author uses plexiglass over lexan due to the scratch resistance of the plexi. He also makes his own patterns and cuts them out with a router. If anyone needs I could scan the article and send it to them. I hope this helps as I too need to replace my windows in my 89 C25 (Even if I won't be able to sail it for a few years :-(
Bruce Ebling
1989 WK "Selah"

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Scooter
Navigator

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USA
228 Posts

Response Posted - 01/11/2005 : 08:15:44

Just got a price for replacement windows for our '89 from Cruising Concepts. The cost is $225. If you include the installation kit (sealant tape, Black oxide screws and drill fixture - $60), Shipping ($35), it comes to a total $320. Has anybody tried them? DID THEY FIT? I'm going to call them to discuss the installation kit. Probably not needed but...

I started (just started)to search around town for a supplier but am interested in prices people have found, if they found sheet material by itself?? The "smoked" material is thicker than I can find in Home Depot or Lowes so it's not a good price comparison.

If interested the number for Cruising Concepts is:
Cruising Concepts
P.O. Box 293
Orcas, WA 98280
www.cruisingconcepts.com
1-800-899-3996

I'm not going to spend that much unless it's just too much hassle to find the right stuff. Time is money too.

On the hard and 60 to 70 degrees in January. Gotta love it. Spring boat projects in January.

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atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 01/11/2005 : 08:50:40

I found a source for acrylic sheets. They have cut sheets as well which will save on the shipping. I may order a cheap piece and try my hand at making a few windows. Three 12" x 24" 1/4 thick sheets came to $50 shipped for me. Looks to be in the "doable" skill level for me.

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=21314&product%5Fid=9841

Tom.

Edited by - on

MattL
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 01/11/2005 : 09:30:43

The best site I have found for plastics is http://www.sdplastics.com
look around, they have prices for all types of plastisc. They also have the most through history and physical descriptions of all types of plastics as well as tips for working witht he stuff.

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atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 01/12/2005 : 01:39:07

My crazed windows will have to wait till I get the anchor roller figured out. I have spent all week in the dumpster as I could not find a midget to work on my wiring! I now have 4 extra circuits using the stock panel. More pictures to follow. I am going to make my windows at home. Using my calibrated hand, they look to be 32by8 in.I figue it will take 4 pieces of 1/4x1'x4' at a cost of around $110. One thing that came to mind for the lucky mk4 people. Are the windows different as well. We could wind up having 2 different acrylic window sizes.

Tom.

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