Curved Pilothouse Window Hell!

[anjou]

Make it larger than you need as It wont be the same shape or size once bent.Ive tried doing this a few times to make aircraft canopies and its a real challenge to keep the optical quality.A plug, covered with chamois leather, then heat the sheet, place over the plug and a close fitting frame which grips the bottom edge which should be well past the actual plug size, and secure while it sets.Good luck

[s/v Jedi]

Hey Chris,

I was looking at your photo album on your website and I have some remarks of course ;-) :

- you should add some more elaborate text under the photo's!
- you should be more patient: the photo of the new foredeck clearly shows that the threadmaster isn't even glued down yet!!
- there's a dead mouse in your cockpit in one of the companion way photo's!!!!!

Very nice website!

cheers,
Nick.

[Christian Van H]

Nick, in answer to your remarks:

1. You're right, I should.

2. It is now!

3. The dead mouse is a cat toy we found lodged behind the original fridge. It has become our mascot. I must congratulate you on you fine powers of observation though...

Seriously though, thank you for the compliment! Coming from you it means something! Thanks again my friend, Chris

[Cheechako]

lookin' goooood!

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Christian Van H

44, that looks sweet! I wish I had the opportunity to design my pilothouse, but it was already 30 years old when I bought her! The boat had a terrible window mounting method...almost a joke. The new windows will be MUCH stronger. Your cat looks like it can go 100 knots standing still! How thick is your Lexan / Plexi to be? We are using 3/8" light grey tinted...

Looks like your windows turned out 100%. Good feeling to have a job that you thought would be a hassle turn out so well.

I ended up taking a slightly different tack from my original intent. I was going to use dark tinted 10mm (3/8") acrylic, but was a little worried about expansion/contraction eventually causing leaks. We have tinted glass windows on our house and they get HOT.

So I went with clear acrylic, and put a mirror tint film on the outside. The theory is that the acrylic won't get anywhere near as hot, so hopefully will be less prone to leaks.

IMO it still looks OK.

[Pelagic]

The lesson I garner from reading thru this thread is that perhaps in some areas it is better to pay a bit more up front and let the Glass Specialists do their thing.

[alex xu]

:Hi guys , one of my Australia client has a 10m long yacht , he wanna get a stainless steel plough anchor from me , but he doesn't know what size of anchor should will suit his yacht , someonw who knows this ? thanks and rgds

[James S]

Nice job on the windows Chris...shes looking good!

[forsailbyowner]

Latecomer here, I have a site saved that sells plastics retail. K-mac-plastics.net

[Christian Van H]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

IMO it still looks OK.

WHOA! That's WAY better than just OK! CruisingCat, you're handiwork is first class. Man is she a head turner...You should be proud. Thanks for the support, my friend!