Replacing rear acrylic hatch

[fullsail]

Hi. I have a rear hatch manufactured by MANSHIP. It's a SS frame with tinted 1/2" acrylic panel, 28" x 28".

The frame is in excellent shape but the panel is sun cracked. If I could clear it up (thinking headlight restorer kit??) I will.

Has anyone taken such a hatch to a local plastics Mfg and had them cut and install a new piece in the existing frame?

A new hatch is $1250.

Thanks
Dave in San Diego

 

[Comodave]

I have done it. Took out the plastic took it to a local plastic shop. Had them duplicate it in the most UV resistant plastic, don’t remember which it was now. Then used caulk to install it. First I tried 5200 and it was an epic fail. You need something like Sika 295UV of suitable caulk that will stick to acrylic. It then worked fine.

 

[DCDC]

I replaced four hatch panes a year ago. Removed the top frames and took them to the house. Cut the old caulk with a utility knife and popped the panes out. Cleaned up the channels with a paint scraper and plastic brush wheel on a drill. Took an old pane to a local plastics company to cut new ones out of 3/8” acrylic (plexiglass). A little research recommended acrylic rather than polycarbonate. Available in a variety of colors and tints. Bedded the new ones with one of the Boatlife caulks. A good caulk gun with low thrust ratio helps. Cost +/- $300 total, including caulk, and about 3 hours per hatch. Hardest part was removing the hatches from the frames.

As usual there are a few YouTube videos going through all the steps.

Good luck with your’s.

 

[Datenight]

We did the same, used a local shop to cut new plastic. There are also businesses the specialize in hatch refurbishing. Here is one in Connecticut https://hatchmasters.com/ A long way from you but there may be something closer.

Rob