Perplexing perspex.

We have been thinking about fitting secondary double glazing to the boat so this week I have been looking about to see what is what. In the past, over the winter months we have used that clear plastic that is like shrink wrapping the window. I really enjoyed using the hair drier and see it contract and become tight as a drum. The problem was it quite easily got dislodged by curtains etc, and was a once only solution. We had found it very cheaply in the pound shops and discount stores previously but this year we didn't find any. It goes against our nature to pay full price and then throw it away. Hence we are looking for a different solution.

Hopper window on our boat. Taken in June 2013 when we were moored alongside the new development and hoarding by Droylsden Marina near Manchester.

The problem is that as can be seen above our windows have the hopper bracket that sticks out. If we covered the whole window with a secondary layer we would not be able to access the hopper window at all and the new panel would only be supported by what ever held it in place. I thought I would test with one window only covering the large lower pane and leaving the opening hopper available for operation. 

The advantages of this are that the secondary panel could rest on the wooden framing at the bottom and that we would have ventilation when required. The disadvantage is that the top bar of the window is not level with the outer surface of the black frame of the rest of the window.

My thoughts are that as it will not be a sealed and vacuumed unit I should be able to make a fair seal with just enough draft proofing material to fill in the gaps at the top. Anyway I am going to test the theory out and buy a  cut piece of perspex and some self adhesive A and B magnetic strip to go round the window and give it a go when we go next time. As the frame is black and the magnetic tape is black the tape shouldn't be seen when in place, or when the panels are down in the summer. All sounds good in theory so far anyway, and every little will help I'm sure.

However when we were at the boat last weekend we didn't notice too much condensation build up when we had the heating and stove lit. The main place it was seen was in the bedroom after a night of two of us breathing out all that wet air! We didn't use the cooker much and I suppose that would be the main other culprit.

Savile Town Wharf, Dewsbury, where we are moored.

I will have to think of something for the side hatch too so that we can have it open for the light but closed off to prevent wind and rain getting in when we are moored. That will need at least three more coats of 'looking at' before I start anything.