Brooksie is your man for this. Hopefully he chimes in. There has been some discussion on the site if you search it, you may find something.

 

There is some discussion on the subject in my project thread:

1981 B&S 35 Project

 

Nothing beats glass

 

Why?
Lexan (polycarbonate) is
bulletproof
clearer than glass
does not sweat as much
10X stronger than glass
workable with woodworking tools
better insulator

 

PALCO in Whitman, Ma. is a supplier of Lexan. They can rough cut the windows or cut to the exact size. I have purchased both clear and tinted lexan. Great service.

 

PALCO in Whitman, Ma.

I didn't know about Palco, good suggestion. I have bought full sheets of Margard MR10 from Freeman Plastics in Dorchester. Their free delivery was nice. My installs have been very simple; just rounded the corners, silicone and riveted in place. Only cleaning is clear water and my hand. No soaps, cloths or brushes to avoid scratches.

Sea Tow Ethan

 

It's just my take on the subject. When we built our boat, my dad opted for the lexan because he already had it from another project he worked on. We installed it with rubber channeled strip that had channels for the pane on the bottom and one on top for the plywood. Although they never leaked, they did become hazy and and scratched to where it got hard to see through if the sun was in your face. But....this was in 1976. I'm sure the product has been way improved over the years. We ended up replacing all the lexan with safety glass. Problem solved for us, anyway.

 

Thanks for the replys. Have procrastinated on the window replacement. Will check out that source. Would be nice to see clear again !

 

The problem is that Lexan was originally advertised as a almost indestructible alternative to glass. I went down that route with my old lobster boat and was very disappointed with how quickly they scratched and hazed.
GE quickly came out with the Marguard version of Lexan, which is just a coating on the surface. It made the product 100 X better and I would consider it for any windows.

 

I had some custom laminated glass windows made. 7/16" thick they were, and I felt very secure with them. Once I washed a Lexan window on a boat I had, and used Tide detergent. Could hardly see anything through it after that.

 

rivets, huh? Do you have any pictures?

 

I'd have to go look for photos since I recently sold that boat. The lexan was mounted to an aluminum pilothouse and it was super easy to use rivets every 8 or 10 inches around the window.

 

I have non mar gard lexan windows in my bhm. It’s pretty rugged I bolt mine on and as long as you coat the, regularly with plexus cleaner and use shop towels to clean them they hold up great the ones in my old sisu are over 10 years old and still fine to this day

 

I have non mar gard lexan windows in my bhm. It's pretty rugged I bolt mine on and as long as you coat the, regularly with plexus cleaner and use shop towels to clean them they hold up great the ones in my old sisu are over 10 years old and still fine to this day

I have non mar gard lexan windows in my bhm. It's pretty rugged I bolt mine on and as long as you coat the, regularly with plexus cleaner and use shop towels to clean them they hold up great the ones in my old sisu are over 10 years old and still fine to this day

That's a good piece of information, do you mean the blue paper shop towels? Replaced my windows and wondered what to clean with.

 

Pics of installs would be cool if anyone has some.

 

I used stainless screws and black silicon, my old windows were thru bolted just used the old holes. 3/8" Lexan

 

Winterking,
Thanks for the pics. Helps alot of peeps to see the concept + info. Did you use a paint on the interior side of plastic to make the "frame" look?
Is there a way to make any operable for air? ie; to open
PICS guys and comments appreciated.
Also I know you can put them in with a rubber gasket...pros/cons?

 

Winterking,
Thanks for the pics. Helps alot of peeps to see the concept + info. Did you use a paint on the interior side of plastic to make the "frame" look?
Is there a way to make any operable for air? ie; to open
PICS guys and comments appreciated.
Also I know you can put them in with a rubber gasket...pros/cons?

Yes I did paint for a frame look, in hindsight I think it was a waste of time as the black silicon did the same. I don't know about opening Lexan Windows but I thought I remember that subject discussed on here previously.

 

Tx Winterking,
As you can see their are alot of proper and misunderstood techniques. So all comments are welcomed.

 

i did my split house windows using black butyl tape and countersunk oval head screws. Matched the black gasket mounted windows in the rest of the house.

 

Just tried this product. Amazing results by hand. If I had a DA it would really be perfect. Front panes still need some more love, but I am completely satisfied. I believe I have plexiglass windows.

 

Lexan and windshield wipers will be a problem if you have or want wipers someday. It does react to detergents which may get on the windows when cleaning elsewhere on the boat. I looked at a Duffy to purchase. The windows not good.

 

According to some, that is not true. Apparently, wipers can be used on lexan with Margard. I am a convert. At first I thought glass was always the way to go, but listening to some with real world experience...I am willing to give it a try.

 

Genius is right, as mentioned in my post above. MarGard (scratch resistant) Lexan or other brands of scratch resistant polycarbonate will NOT be harmed by windshield wipers, washing with a brush or white Scotchbright pad. I have MarGard Lexan on both my boats windshields, both over 10 years old and clear as a bell. Never used any polish.
Don't believe me? By a small piece on eBay and try to scratch it.

 

My lexan is 8 years old and really starting to haze. I've tried everything to bring them back but no luck. I am debating on trying Margard, sounds like it would last a lot longer

 

I think you would be happy with the MarGard Lexan or equal.
BTW in your 3rd picture, it looks like a crack in the upper right hand corner, polycarbonate (Lexan) would never do that, are you sure that is what you used? It says Maxrolon on the paper which is polycarbonate so I guess you did. Is that a crack??

 

No, it's the reflection from my outrigger line but they did crack in several spots when I was tightening the bolts. Whatever brand my windshield is has held up incredibly well, maybe those are margard. I was going to put glass in next year but not sure yet

 

Yes, I would go with the genuine article LEXAN. Lexan can be bent in a metalworking brake without cracking (not the MarGard type) so I think your plastic, if cracked, is substandard compared to genuine Lexan. Holes must be well oversized to allow for expansion.

 

Is it possible to get a Lexan or Polycarbonate in a very dark tint?
I have not been able to locate a source if so.
I'm in the process of replacing my side windows all around and am about to move forward with just tempered dark glass. Frames are already in place and have sliding windows on both sides of my salon.

 

Jaybyrd
I would continue with the glass you have chosen. Lexan is available tinted but may not a direct replacement for glass sliders for several reasons.

 

Thanks for the input.

 

I'm no expert but I used lexan on two boats. One was an old 23 Tolman built in 2000 and the lexan lasted a long time. Maybe not as optically clear as good glass but lighter and I had no issues with scratching and they were bullet proof. One day towin gup to the highlands a cable truck was doing work and didn't block off the road and my skiff pilot house hit the cable and pulled it a bit until it snapped. no worries on the lexan

I installed mine with truss head SS fasteners and silicon. The main thing is to overvbore the screw hole for full thread and don't torque too hard putting them in, or you will get a little distorton you can see best with sun glasses on

I used lexan on my tolman 27 also but I tried to get fancy and do two sliders. where the windows pass each other they scratch all up. Because they are flimsy in the dual track. but for fixed windwos they work great. we use fresh water hosing them off ans sometimes a light mild soap to get summer bugs off from a 100 mile trailer trip I have a video of hitting them with a sledge hammer when I took the cabin off my tolman 23. the hammer bounced back at me.