From the ones I have seen, I would say yes that the teak adds support. I
have observed grown men standing on the hatch so it is strong.



Try buying a polishing kit and polishing out the defects. I purchased a kit
to use on my hatch and ports but have not yet had time to try it.



I am sure you can special order the Lexan from a glass shop if you decide to
replace it. It will not be CHEAP!!!



John Myers,







_____

From: watkins@yahoogroups.com [mailto:watkins@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Alan Wilson
Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 7:16 PM
To: watkins@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [watkins] Re: Main Hatch plastic on 33 footer








It flexes a little more than the deck which is not much at all. It is that
smoky gray-blue color I think of as Lexan but it is close to an inch thick!
Once again do the teak parts play a support/structural role for the Lexan?
Alan.

--- In watkins@yahoogroups <mailto:watkins%40yahoogroups.com> .com, "Rick
and Ruth Bailey" <rick_rew@...> wrote:
>
> Alan,
>
> If your plastic is rigid, like glass, it is lexan. If it flexes, it's some
kind of acrylic or polystyrene - probably acrylic, as it is tougher than
poly.
>
> Rick in Washington DC
>
>
>
> --- In watkins@yahoogroups <mailto:watkins%40yahoogroups.com> .com, "Alan
Wilson" <alancwilson51@> wrote:
> >
> > Anyone have any idea what the plastic is that makes up the sliding main
hatch on the 33's and such Watkins? It is what I would call Lexan but from
what I can find out that material was never made as thick as the plastic in
the hatch. I think someone has replaced their plastic for a search of the
messages available refer to the replacement but I can not find any thing
else about the hatch. Such as are the teak strips structural? I never plan
to put any weight on the hatch but it can happen. Ours is intact but has a
crazed cracks all through it look although light still gets through you can
not make out what a shadow is through it. I have been thinking about
repairing this for some time.
> > Has anyone attempted to change this hatch into an upward opening hatch?
I would envision that as something you would do under a dodger and then have
fabric or panels to fit in the groove on each side under the hatch. It would
also work well with doors leading into the cockpit. Anybody tried it?
> > Alan & Marge W.
> > Prairie Schooner W-33
> >
>





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