Hi Cary,

My 1978 Rhodes 22 has a luan teak plywood companionway hatch cover.  The hinge is a SS piano hinge.  I have to take the hatch cover apart, sand it down, and revarnish every couple of years.  But, given that minimal maintenance, it's still the original hatch cover.  Of course, it doesn't allow any light into the cabin when closed; but, it also doesn't get hot in direct sunshine.  Freshly varnished, I think it looks good, very traditional.  Even when UV stabilized, polycarbonate will take UV damage from the sun.  Polycarbonate is a crystaline polymer, which means it inherantly tends to fail by brittle fracture, even when new.  UV exposure only renders it more brittle.  Is your hinge thru bolted or are the screws threaded into the Lexan?  If it is threaded; then, you  could make it somewhat more resistant to cracking by drilling out the threads.  Then, thru bolt it using the biggest OD fender washers that will fit.  Thru bolting with fender washers to spread the load will make the hinge assembly much less likely to crack.

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
1978  Sanford, MI

________________________________
From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> on behalf of Cary Tolbert <retiredtoby at gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2024 6:31 PM
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Hatch to Cabin

My hatch is made of 3/8 in. thick black polycarbonate (lexan). It has a
crack at the bend. Like me it has been patched up and is still serviceable.
I am thinking more about when the time comes to sell the boat. What
material is General Boats currently using? The previous owner said the boat
went through recycling in the early 2000s. So the polycarbonate has held up
to abuse and the sun for 20 years.
It does let some light into the cabin but the black color absorbs a lot of
heat.
Looking for suggestions and ideas of what may be the current or fashionable
update for the market. I know tastes change but I still wear penny loafers
style shoes from the 60s.

Thanks for your help.

Cary Tolbert
S/V Whisper   86
Claytor Lake , VA