adding a clear window for scale look on 30"+ cat

[readyfireaim]

So i have always wanted to add a clear window onto a boat of mine. I have seen the KOS, which comes standard with one, but i have never owned one. I have a lot of questions about adding one to a boat.

Does anybody have any experience with this? I would love to pick your brain on the matter.

i have an blackjack v2 that could use. The top is a rather thin plastic though. Im not sure how strong it would have to be?

The KOS has the plastic window on the inside, but i would think it would be stronger to be on the outside?

So many questions. I thought i would reach out before i started cutting things up.

Thank you in advance for your time,

[runzwithsizorz]

The only one I remember on these forums; http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...ght=windshield

[readyfireaim]

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

[runzwithsizorz]

Sheets of lexan can be purchased at Lowes, and they really aren't that expensive. With a heat gun, (paint stripper) you can mold it to *FIBERGLASS* , from the inside by pushing it into place, WITH A GLOVED HAND!!! How do I know? my first attempt burned my fingers, and left fingerprints in the lexan. Doubt if your wife's hair dryer would work, but it might. If the top of the v2 Blackjack is plastic, don't even try it!

[readyfireaim]

Awesome, great idea. i have a digital variable temp heat gun. What kinda temps were you using?

[runzwithsizorz]

I have an old heat gun with only one temperature, HOT!. By trial, and error, I was able to figure out just how long, and what distance to hold the gun. You want to make it pliable, but don't want to overheat, and melt the lexan. Once you get to the right temperature, (and you will know this by holding the gun in one hand, and lightly pushing on the lexan with a finger, or two with the other), you can now put the gun down, and work with both hands for *maybe* as long as 8 seconds before it starts to harden. Rinse, and repeat. I knew there was a chance of leaving finger, or nail prints so I first tried latex gloves, no prints, but burned fingers. I believed suede gloves would also leave marks on the soft surface. What worked for me was a pair of *dress-up* leather winter gloves. Perhaps a thick/folded smooth cloth would work. I am not going as far, and intricate as Cooper did, I just formed the lexan far larger than the actual windows, scuffed up what wouldn't be showing, and epoxied the heck out of it to the inside of the hatch. A bead of thick CA glue around the outside edges, and a peel, and stick wide pinstripe to finish it off. I just hope I never nose in at high speed, AND upside down. Again, I would not attempt this with a plastic hatch, (such as the Blackjack). The plastic would melt/warp faster than the lexan. It just so happens I have the original Blackjack, it has the dual canopy with clear windows. I wonder if the dimensions are the same? 13.1/4 x 8.1/2