Changing out all windows for glass

[simonhantler]

has anyone changed all windows in there cat for glass? do lagoon, FP,outtremer,
use glass or acrylic as standard?

[noelex 77]

Welcome to the forum Simon.

Glass has many advantages over acrylic or polycarbonate, but I suspect it would be too heavy for a cat. Production cats always use plastic as far as I am aware.

On the larger windows I would think you would need about 12mm glass (this needs properly calculating) which is about 30kg/m2.

What is the window area?

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Simon.

[UNCIVILIZED]

There's a good bit of related info, plus some self education tips in this recent thread http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...se-190998.html
Ditto many others using the search words; glazing, acrylic, polycarbonate, etc.

[simonhantler]

I don't have a cat yet, doing my homework at this stage. Some of the production cats I like but wonder if they use glass and if not what the cost would be for replacing all windows to glass. Outremer 45 or 50 and balance 526 are my preference at this stage.

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by simonhantler

I don't have a cat yet, doing my homework at this stage. Some of the production cats I like but wonder if they use glass and if not what the cost would be for replacing all windows to glass. Outremer 45 or 50 and balance 526 are my preference at this stage.

You'd want to use laminated glass, a step up from tempered glass. Expensive and difficult to work with.

In general, aside from weight and cost, acrylic/polycarbonate windows are preferred for safety. Less likely to crack from being hit by an errant shackle or who knows what.

I replaced all the port lights in a my boat a few years ago and the glass is at least 5/16" thick, and the ports are only 5" x 20". You'd probably go up to 1/2" on big areas of glazing. The weight of that thickness glass on a big cat would be absolutely enormous.

[a64pilot]

Definitely laminated glass, that is car windshields. Impact will shatter, but it stays in one piece because of the plastic laminate.
Tempered glass is like the car window or a shower door, impact breaks it into a million tiny pieces, but the whole window is gone.