Looking to learn more about marine and boat plastics? In this short article we cover 16 terms often used in the marine and boat plastics industry.
As experts in the industry, we have compiled this list of terms covering areas such as:
- Boat windows and screens
- Batch hatch covers and liners
- Boat washboards
Related reading: Marine & boat plastics – your questions answered
Let’s get started:
Acrylic
Acrylic is a clear plastic material often used for boat windows, screens and windshields.
Acrylic offers outstanding strength, toughness, and optical clarity.
Acrylic sheets are easy to fabricate. It bonds well with adhesives and other solvents and is very easy to thermoform.
In the marine and boat plastics industry, the other materials used are:
- Marine-grade plastics
- Perspex®
- Polycarbonate
Boat hatch covers
A boat hatch cover is used to protect the acrylic lens of deck hatches
A boat hatch is a cover system for the outside of the hatch to prevent the destruction of the lens from the weather and elements; such as the sun and heat.
Boat hatch liners
A boat hatch liner helps keep the hatch watertight.
This helps reduces the risk of flooding and damp.
Find out more: Boat hatch covers and liners
Boat screens
A boat screen is another term for a windscreen or windshield.
They are usually manufactured from:
- Acrylic
- Polycarbonate
- Perspex®
- Glass
Boat windows
Boat windows are also known as portholes.
Simply put they are the windows you see on the sides of boats.
At Hampshire Plastics, we manufacture:
- Replacement boat windows
- Curved boat windows
- Custom and bespoke boat windows
Boat windscreens
A boat windscreen is very much the same as what you may find in a car.
Boat windscreens protect individuals from spray, keeping them dry as they go about their business out on the sea!
At Hampshire Plastics, we manufacture boat windscreens in a range of marine and boat plastics including:
- Acrylic
- Polycarbonate
- Perspex®
Curved boat windscreens
Speedboats and ribs often have curved windscreens. Simply put, as opposed to being flat, they are curved!
The bespoke products are made from:
- Acrylic
- Polycarbonate
- Perspex®
Find out more: Boat windows and screens
Find out more: Curved boat windows and screens
Custom boat plastics
Custom and bespoke boat plastics refer to made-to-measure items such as:
- Replacement boat windows
- Curved boat windows
- Portholes
- Hatch covers
Related reading: The benefits of custom boat windscreens
Custom and bespoke boat screens and windshields
These are made to measure boat screens and windshields.
There are a whole host of benefits to custom boat windshields and screens including:
- Durability
- Safety
- Aesthetic appeal
- Improved visibility
Related reading: The benefits of bespoke motor yacht screens
Related reading: Why should you choose a bespoke windscreen for your rib?
Marine plastics
Marine plastics, otherwise known as boat plastics, are the materials used for:
- Boat windows
- Curved boat windows
- Custom and bespoke boat windows
- Boat screens
- Boat windscreens and windshields
- Replacement boat windows
The different types of marine plastics are:
- Acrylic
- Polycarbonate
- Perspex®
Related reading: Why marine plastics are essential for your boat
Perspex®
Perspex® is often used when manufacturing:
- Boat windows
- Curved boat windows
- Custom and bespoke boat windows
- Boat screens
- Boat windscreens and windshields
- Replacement boat windows
Perspex® ® acrylic is a tradename of Lucite International and refers to polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) acrylic sheets, which is made from methyl methacrylate monomer (MMA).
Source: Wikipedia – What is Perspex®
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is often used when manufacturing:
- Boat windows
- Curved boat windows
- Custom and bespoke boat windows
- Boat screens
- Boat windscreens and windshields
- Replacement boat windows
Polycarbonates are a group of thermoplastic polymers containing carbonate groups in their chemical structures. Polycarbonates used in engineering are strong, tough materials, and some grades are optically transparent. They are easily worked, molded, and thermoformed.
Source: Wikipedia – What is Polycarbonate
Replacement boat windows
The acrylic, polycarbonate, and Perspex® ® boat windows, screens and windshields we manufacture are highly durable.
Over time the elements cause wear and tear, and they need replacing to maintain all round health and safety whilst out on the water.
Furthermore, to maintain the aesthetic appeal of a boat, these windows need replacing due to the impact of salt spray and more.
The materials we use for replacement boat windows (portholes) are:
- Acrylic
- Polycarbonate
- Perspex®
Replacement boat screens
Similar to portholes, boat screens need replacing over time due to the impact of the elements.
The materials we use for replacement boat screens are:
- Acrylic
- Polycarbonate
- Perspex®
Find out more: Replacement boat windows and screens
Windscreens
Boat windscreens protect those on board a vessel from sea spray and when cruising through choppy waters. They also protect those on board from the wind!
The materials we use for replacement boat screens are:
- Acrylic
- Polycarbonate
- Perspex®
Windshields
Boat windshields are also referred to as windshields.
About Hampshire Plastics
Based in Portsmouth, Hampshire Plastics offers a range of services to the marine industry.
With over 50 years of experience and ISO 9001:2015 accreditation, our highly skilled and experienced staff are able to deliver high-quality products, unique to your specification.
Our range of marine and boat plastics covers:
- Boat windows and screens
- Batch hatch covers and liners
- Boat washboards
Call us today on 023 9248 6633 for a free consultation.
