What are the pros and cons of using corrugated polycarbonate panels for the ceiling (not roof) of a fresh-water boat lift? Is there large expansion and contraction in weather extremes? What tools are best to cut the panels to fit irregular shapes?
Are there better maintenance free materials for this application, e.g. vinyl panels?
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I need to put a ceiling in the boat lift to keep birds, etc out of the rafters. Want the most practical maintenance free material I can find, but it will be exposed to high humidity, UV rays off the water, and large temperature swimgs.
What tools do ou use to cut the polycarbonate to fit irregular shapes (e.g. pulleys and the motor drive of the lift)?
Polycarbonate cust with normal tools
General wood working tools work fine, carbide is best. The only exception is be sure things are sharp, dull means heat, which can melt things and leave a gooey mess.
If you were doing a lot of work with it you might want to change the sharpening angle on drill bits, and possibly buy some of the dedicated blades made for plastics to use in your saws.
The thermal expansion coefficient is about 70X10-6, in/in/degree kelvin. So for a 150-degree centigrade change in temp, the change in length is about 1%.