Portlight Glass

GWB · 08-10-2009, 18:12

Is it OK to use tempered glass in an opening portlight? The glass that I removed is 2 pieces laminated together but I've been told that tempered is stronger....these are 6" ABI round portlights

Thanks for any input

captden · 08-10-2009, 18:22

I would stay with the laminated glass, tempered glass may be stronger but when it does break it shatters into very small pieces. When I replaced my portlites I went with the laminate cheaper and it may stay in place with a lot of crackes but better than no glass at all
captden

roverhi · 08-10-2009, 19:48

Stick with safety glass. All of my 40 year old opening ports are cracked. With the safety glass, they are still water tight. If they were tempered, I'd have four gaping holes in the cabin side.

osirissail · 08-10-2009, 19:58

Automobile windshield and other windows are all safety glass - the two layers with the plastic between. You can get junk yard car windows and take them to a glass shop and have them cut the circles you need.

**sarafina** · 08-10-2009, 21:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by osirissail

Automobile windshield and other windows are all safety glass - the two layers with the plastic between. You can get junk yard car windows and take them to a glass shop and have them cut the circles you need.

well damm... that is smart...

thanks!

Island Mike · 09-10-2009, 04:00

Safety glass is the way to go, I have them in all my ports. I've had to replaced 3 of them, wish I would have thought to use some old automobile windshield glass. Well there is always next time.

GordMay · 09-10-2009, 05:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by osirissail

Automobile windshield and other windows are all safety glass - the two layers with the plastic between. You can get junk yard car windows and take them to a glass shop and have them cut the circles you need.

I believe that most manufacturers now make car windows out of tempered & laminated safety glass. This means that the glass has been cooled in such a way to induce tension in the exterior skin, while the interior is in compression.

Tempered safety glass cannot be cut by hand without shattering it.

Glass that is merely laminated can be cut.

See also ➥ Drilling Tempered glass - possible ???

osirissail · 09-10-2009, 07:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarafina

well damm... that is smart... thanks!

Well actually it was an expensive lesson learned - I had two 8" replacement pieces of glass shipped in from Asia by ABI for over $100 each. Then they did not fit so I had to go to a glass shop to have them sanded down to proper size. The shopman said "why didn't you just come here and I would have cut what you needed out of a broken auto windshield?"

A good auto glass shop can cut the circles easily as they "know how" to do it.

Fishman_Tx · 09-10-2009, 07:53

We're reglassing all 10 of our crazed portlights with laminated auto glass. $30 each for the 4 1/2" x 9 3/4".

S&S · 09-10-2009, 07:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by osirissail

Automobile windshield and other windows are all safety glass - the two layers with the plastic between. You can get junk yard car windows and take them to a glass shop and have them cut the circles you need.

Side windows are tempered, only the front windshield is laminated (not tempered).

Tempered safety glass is available- the glass is cut to size first, then tempered , then laminated. (You can't cut tempered glass). PM me if you want to go that route (it's pricey).

We decided against laminated glass when we replaced our ports and went with tempered (but it's 3/16" thick-and LOF stamped)

Fishman_Tx · 09-10-2009, 08:02

We were told for tempered they have to be custom made.....

S&S · 09-10-2009, 08:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishman_Tx

We were told for tempered they have to be custom made.....

Yep, that's correct.. the glass is sized and edge polished , then tempered.

sabray · 09-10-2009, 08:39

usually you can tell if the glass is tempered. there are some very small indents in the glass as if made by a small nail. 1 in each corner I recall. I would go with laminated safety glass.

S&S · 09-10-2009, 08:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by GordMay

I believe that most manufacturers now make car windows out of tempered & laminated safety glass. This means that the glass has been cooled in such a way to induce tension in the exterior skin, while the interior is in compression.

Maybe it's different in Canada, but in the States the windshields are not tempered, and the side windows are tempered, not laminated.

Note. I replaced the windshield and a back glass on my '01 Suburban last year so I know this personally.

GWB · 09-10-2009, 09:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by osirissail

Well actually it was an expensive lesson learned - I had two 8" replacement pieces of glass shipped in from Asia by ABI for over $100 each. Then they did not fit so I had to go to a glass shop to have them sanded down to proper size. The shopman said "why didn't you just come here and I would have cut what you needed out of a broken auto windshield?"

A good auto glass shop can cut the circles easily as they "know how" to do it.

Is the autoglass thick enough?

Thanks

08-10-2009, 18:12	#1
GWB Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 34	Portlight Glass Is it OK to use tempered glass in an opening portlight? The glass that I removed is 2 pieces laminated together but I've been told that tempered is stronger....these are 6" ABI round portlights Thanks for any input

09-10-2009, 04:00	#6
Island Mike Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Boat: Far East Mariner 40 - Tivoli Posts: 569 Images: 8	Safety glass is the way to go, I have them in all my ports. I've had to replaced 3 of them, wish I would have thought to use some old automobile windshield glass. Well there is always next time. __________________ S/V Tivoli Mike & Paula

09-10-2009, 07:53	#9
Fishman_Tx Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Beeville, Tx. Boat: 1973 Bristol 34 - "Our Baby" on the hard in Rockport,Tx. Posts: 655 Images: 6	We're reglassing all 10 of our crazed portlights with laminated auto glass. $30 each for the 4 1/2" x 9 3/4". __________________ Fish "Behind every great man there is a woman, rolling her eyes." But not for long!

09-10-2009, 08:02	#11
Fishman_Tx Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Beeville, Tx. Boat: 1973 Bristol 34 - "Our Baby" on the hard in Rockport,Tx. Posts: 655 Images: 6	We were told for tempered they have to be custom made..... __________________ Fish "Behind every great man there is a woman, rolling her eyes." But not for long!

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08-10-2009, 18:22	#2
captden Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New England Boat: Vagabond 47 Renaissance Posts: 97 Images: 15	I would stay with the laminated glass, tempered glass may be stronger but when it does break it shatters into very small pieces. When I replaced my portlites I went with the laminate cheaper and it may stay in place with a lot of crackes but better than no glass at all captden

08-10-2009, 19:48	#3
roverhi Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kona, Hawaii Boat: Pearson 35 #108 Posts: 856	Stick with safety glass. All of my 40 year old opening ports are cracked. With the safety glass, they are still water tight. If they were tempered, I'd have four gaping holes in the cabin side.

08-10-2009, 19:58	#4
osirissail Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: onboard in the Caribbean - mostly in Grenada Boat: Gulfstar 53 - Osiris Posts: 1,065	Automobile windshield and other windows are all safety glass - the two layers with the plastic between. You can get junk yard car windows and take them to a glass shop and have them cut the circles you need.

09-10-2009, 08:39	#13
sabray Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Boat: corsair f-27, PETERSON 44 Posts: 328	usually you can tell if the glass is tempered. there are some very small indents in the glass as if made by a small nail. 1 in each corner I recall. I would go with laminated safety glass.

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