Plastic Products for Marine Applications

Nylon 6/6 has historically been used in many marine bushing and bearing applications due to its heat and wear properties. Mitsubishi Chemical Group’s Ertalyte® TX (PET-P) offers elevated performance with low friction; high impact, shock, and abrasion resistance; and a low acoustic signature. For the most demanding applications, Mitsubishi Chemical Group’s Ketron® HPV PEEK features even lower surface friction even at high temperatures, which reduces stick-slip to protect surrounding machine components.

All cabinets are designed with weight and load bearing capabilities in mind. However, cabinets in boats must also protect contents that shift and collide as the ship moves, possibly while being exposed to the elements. BOATBOARD HDPE is a strong and lightweight UV resistant material that offers the protection you need for cabinet interiors, including drawers and tool holders. For cabinet exteriors, ASTARIGLAS NAUTICAL EXTREME acrylic comes in a variety of glossy, opaque colors such as white, beige, and black to seamlessly match the aesthetic of your cabin, while providing excellent weatherability and enhanced machinability to minimize fabrication time. 

Bulkheads are vertical walls that separate the inside of a ship into compartments. Recycled plastic materials are becoming an increasingly popular sustainable choice for cleat blocks and bulkheads. Materials like PVC utility board and Marine-X ABS can adhere to fiberglass, offering rigidity with no water absorption. For the best in performance and screw retention, Whalelite® is an elite, eco-friendly solution for top of the line fiberglass backerboards. 

Marine control panels and dashboards should be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. ASTARIGLAS NAUTICAL EXTREME acrylic is strong, durable, easy to fabricate, and available in several glossy colors. It can even be backlit! Polymershapes also offers pre-painted laser ablatable acrylic sheets that can be laser engraved for a simple and elegant, fully customizable solution. For instrument panel backing plates, BOATBOARD HDPE is a solid choice because it’s strong, durable, and economical.   

Docks are structures built over a body of water to provide a place for boats to load and unload. Historically, wood has been the go-to material for this essential part of the marine industry. However, wood often requires treatment to prevent water damage and eventually succumbs to rotting, splitting, or weakening and needs to be replaced. PVC and composite decking material by AmeriLux can provide long-term reliability while requiring less maintenance and support, promoting a more sustainable future. Plastics also simplify dock construction, requiring less labor to build larger structures.

Since docks and boats frequently come into close contact, both require protection from one another. Dock bumpers and fenders are attached to the edges of docks to absorb the kinetic energy of any collisions. UHMW-PE is soft and durable yet very impact resistant, making it the perfect low friction shield to prevent damaged docks or breached ship hulls. For larger fenders in commercial shipping terminals, HDPE is sometimes used as a backer. 

Even something as simple as fishing rod holders and racks needs to be made of high-quality materials to last in a harsh marine environment. Consider investing in HDPE or Type I PVC for long-lasting, cost-effective, and durable fishing rod holders.

Many common hatch materials tend to wear easily due to frequent opening and closing. As time goes on, the wear will impact the fit and seal of the hatch, which could lead to leaks and water damage. Plastics such as acrylic or HDPE provide the same protection with better wear resistance.

Coring composites have revolutionized boat construction by allowing for strong, sturdy hulls at a fraction of the weight. Polymershapes offers a variety of products to bring the most out of any vessel, including Diab’s line of Divinycell foam core materials, Shapes+ Extreme Foam PVC, Marine-X Foamed ABS by Primex and Whalelite from Richlite. 

Pulley systems and sheaves bear a lot of weight, stress and wear, which demand powerful materials to prevent failure. Nylon and acetal are considered the go-to materials for these applications because of their strength, stiffness, and load-bearing capabilities.