plexiglass source for Bomar hatch

[return]

Hi new member here having just bought Pearson 323 #94, originally bought new by my father in law in 1977!

Just rebedded the two deck hatches with Butyl tape, all good.  one of the hatches has a small leak around the plexi at the screws with some cracking as well.

I tried calling Bomar successor Pompanette and they don't sell hatch plexi of that type anymore.

So my questions are:
1.  Do I measure and have a replacement made from a shop, or their a ready made one available?
2.  What material should I use. plexiglass, lexan, etc and how thick?
3.  What do I use to seat in and seal the replacement material?

Any help greatly appreciated!
Mike

[Dolce_Vita]

Hi new member here having just bought Pearson 323 #94, originally bought new by my father in law in 1977!

Just rebedded the two deck hatches with Butyl tape, all good.  one of the hatches has a small leak around the plexi at the screws with some cracking as well.

I tried calling Bomar successor Pompanette and they don't sell hatch plexi of that type anymore.

So my questions are:
1.  Do I measure and have a replacement made from a shop, or their a ready made one available?
2.  What material should I use. plexiglass, lexan, etc and how thick?
3.  What do I use to seat in and seal the replacement material?

Any help greatly appreciated!
Mike

1) carefully remove the original lens, and use it to make a template out of 3/4” MDF. The template is then used to cut out the new lexan using a router with a template follower bit.

2) The hatch lens is  lexan, not plexiglass. Lexan sheets can be ordered from McMaster-Carr.

3) DO NOT use screws to reattach!  The different thermal expansion coefficient between the lens and the frame will crack the lens at the holes. Instead, use black Dow Corning 795. It is a high strength industrial adhesive designed to hold in glass windowpanes in high rise buildings.

I rebuilt mine this way and they have been leak free for 8 years.

[return]

Thanks for the advice, perfect and I will follow to a Tee! 
Much appreciated.
Mike