Where can I get a 245 cabin hatch?

[jburt1991]

I need another cabin replacement hatch.  Any ideas on substitute material?

Thanks,
John

[wingtime]

I assume your talking about the smoked acrylic hatch on a 245 Explorer. No known suppliers have them, I don't think Marine Connection has them either. Your best bet is finding a local plastics guy that can fabricate a replacement.

[jburt1991]

Thanks wingtime.  I'll if I can find a local fabricator.

[flycaster1]

Just prior to me buying my craft the previous owner replaced it with a custom made unit from a local plastic / plexiglas shop.
The biggest problem is drilling the holes.
They have to be done extremely carefully with drill bits progressively getting larger one bit at a time.
Good luck.

[numlaar]

Just prior to me buying my craft the previous owner replaced it with a custom made unit from a local plastic / plexiglas shop.
The biggest problem is drilling the holes.
They have to be done extremely carefully with drill bits progressively getting larger one bit at a time.
Good luck.

I previously worked at an acrylic/plexi shop. You can drill them, but just need to buy a special "plastic" drill bit. It has a different cone shape to the point, that is specifically made to drill plastic(plexi), and prevent it from cracking.

Sadly, I can't remember where we got them, was like 15 years ago, but if I do, I will add it to the post.

Another trick to help is to put a piece of blue painters tape over where you are going to drill the hole. It helps prevent walking on the initial start, and also helps to prevent cracking.

hope that info helps!

[seabob4]

We used to use tapered drill bits at Wellcraft for drilling plexi, but I have used standard bits many times, you just have to go slow with the drill RPMs...

[wingtime]

Ditto on the special bits.  I have some for drilling aircraft windows....  nothing like the horror of seeing a crack in a VERY expensive acrylic window!  regular fluted drills are designed to pull themselves into the material.  You don't want that when drilling acrylic.  The next critical step is edge finishing.  You have to deburr or chamfer the edges of the hole.  The smoother the edges of the hole the better.  Any scratches or chips will cause stress risers leading to cracks.

Here is a link on some tips:

http://www.plasticsmag.com/features.asp?fIssue=Sep/Oct-01

[GoneFission]

Roger on drilling plastics - you can do it with a regular bit - if you are careful - but there are special bits made for plastics:  https://www.onsrud.com/xdoc/Plastic-Drilling-Tools

[flycaster1]

Just prior to me buying my craft the previous owner replaced it with a custom made unit from a local plastic / plexiglas shop.
The biggest problem is drilling the holes.
They have to be done extremely carefully with drill bits progressively getting larger one bit at a time.
Good luck.

I previously worked at an acrylic/plexi shop. You can drill them, but just need to buy a special "plastic" drill bit. It has a different cone shape to the point, that is specifically made to drill plastic(plexi), and prevent it from cracking.

Sadly, I can't remember where we got them, was like 15 years ago, but if I do, I will add it to the post.

Another trick to help is to put a piece of blue painters tape over where you are going to drill the hole. It helps prevent walking on the initial start, and also helps to prevent cracking.

hope that info helps!

Or you can take the hole up one drill size at a time. Unless you have a ton of holes to drill stepping is slow but works fine.