How to lay glass pieces

[SVJOCO]

We removed the teak from our deck and are going to put 2 layers 1708 across the whole deck. The question is, what is the best way to lay the pieces? For example, out toward the edges (toe rail & cabin top) do we offset them or stack them even? I’m thinking the lowest layer should stop short and the layer above should run out to the edge. Avoid a sharp edge that way. Also, as we can’t do the entire deck in one go and one giant glass piece, we will have seams. Our plan is to stagger the joints of the top layer so they are offset from the bottom. Are we okay to leave the resulting butt joints, or do we need to put yet another thinner piece of glass over the joint?

[Rucksta]

Instead off pieces consider

1708 in an 8" roll with thinned stitched edges.

Lay diagonally overlapping the thinned edges.

Reverse diagonal for second laminate

The joints are overlapping of even thickness.

[Matt Johnson]

With what you are doing, I'd lay the largest piece extending to the edge first and then the next slightly smaller piece. The reason is that you're going to have to sand flush the edge, and if the top layer is the largest, you'll probably sand through this layer where it goes over the smaller.

[Benz]

I'm of the "Largest pieces on top" camp. Unless you have two layers the same exact dimension, you won't notice edges underneath, unless you allowed it to cure solid before laminating above. Then you should feather that edge down.
Always butt your seams, just make sure that seams above are staggered. You can leave the last butt without anything over it. If there's a little groove, it's easier to fill that than to grind down a lump where you put material over.