Vinyl window hassle

Bretko23

New Member
May 9, 2018
24
Bridgeport, NY
Boat Info
225 weekender 2002
Engines
5.0 MPI Mercruiser
new to the group. Just purchased a 2002 225 weekender and love it! Is there any secret to installing the zipped in vinyl window enclosure. There is a black strip that gets installed into the extrusion of the windshield and it is a real pain in the neck. we tried sliding, pressing and anything else we could think of to install. Either doing something wrong or there has got to be a better way. Help and advice would be most welcome......
 
Strong thumbs required! Our 1997 250 had those and while it took a while to get the hang of it, after some time it worked fine. Our technique was to press it in the groove. Maybe wait for a warm day. Had any of those lately? :)

Or warm up the black part with a blow dryer. If I remember correctly, we pressed the rubber into the groove and then did the zipping.

Good luck.
 
new to the group. Just purchased a 2002 225 weekender and love it! Is there any secret to installing the zipped in vinyl window enclosure. There is a black strip that gets installed into the extrusion of the windshield and it is a real pain in the neck. we tried sliding, pressing and anything else we could think of to install. Either doing something wrong or there has got to be a better way. Help and advice would be most welcome......

Is your black strip the "T" style? If so, on our 340DA all we had to do was slip part of the "T" under the top of the extrusion first and then the bottom just pressed in easily.

-Tom
 
Strong thumbs required! Our 1997 250 had those and while it took a while to get the hang of it, after some time it worked fine. Our technique was to press it in the groove. Maybe wait for a warm day. Had any of those lately? :)

Or warm up the black part with a blow dryer. If I remember correctly, we pressed the rubber into the groove and then did the zipping.

Good luck.
Thanks for the reply!! Yes we do get a warm day...its usually the 2nd Tuesday in July and I want to be ready when it arrives!!!
 
Is your black strip the "T" style? If so, on our 340DA all we had to do was slip part of the "T" under the top of the extrusion first and then the bottom just pressed in easily.

-Tom
Yes it is the "T" style strip but what I found is the canvas was not used often and from being folded so long it has several spots that are creased and were not fitting in extrusion properly. Thanks for the reply...
 
Yes it is the "T" style strip but what I found is the canvas was not used often and from being folded so long it has several spots that are creased and were not fitting in extrusion properly. Thanks for the reply...

I have found that if you slowly pour boiling water over the trim to soften it, and then immediately install it, it helps get the shape back to what it needs to be to install properly. And no risk of actual melting or burning it.
 
This comes up every so often and there are quite a few threads about it and the "tricks" that make this easy. Once you know the tricks, it's a piece of cake and the entire camper canvas takes about 5 minutes to put up. I recently responded to another thread about the tricks - probably within the last month. If you search, using my name, you should be able to find it (and I'm sure you can find other threads about it, too). For example: slip the top in first, then the bottom - much easier... also spray the black rubber with vinyl conditioner.
 
I have found that if you slowly pour boiling water over the trim to soften it, and then immediately install it, it helps get the shape back to what it needs to be to install properly. And no risk of actual melting or burning it.
Great idea Thanks...
 
This comes up every so often and there are quite a few threads about it and the "tricks" that make this easy. Once you know the tricks, it's a piece of cake and the entire camper canvas takes about 5 minutes to put up. I recently responded to another thread about the tricks - probably within the last month. If you search, using my name, you should be able to find it (and I'm sure you can find other threads about it, too). For example: slip the top in first, then the bottom - much easier... also spray the black rubber with vinyl conditioner.
Thanks for input and I will check threads. I have to say I have owned different boats for nearly 40 years and this 225 weekender is the "cats ass" I absolutely love this boat and the 5.0 MPI has enough guts to cruise along nicely. Getting out of the "box" is a little slow but I'm not a speedy guy anyway...Do you have knowledge regarding the Hydrofoil for the out drive? Effective?
 
Thanks for input and I will check threads. I have to say I have owned different boats for nearly 40 years and this 225 weekender is the "cats ass" I absolutely love this boat and the 5.0 MPI has enough guts to cruise along nicely. Getting out of the "box" is a little slow but I'm not a speedy guy anyway...Do you have knowledge regarding the Hydrofoil for the out drive? Effective?
I do have "some" knowledge. The 215 I used to own is essentially the same as your 225... and I happen to work at a Sea Ray dealership :)

Skip the hydrofoil - waste of money for a bigger boat. They only provide a fixed amount of "pounds of lift" - doesn't matter what boat they are on. Has more of an affect on lighter boats given the lift:weight ratio. And, sometimes, it actually hurts performance.

What drive do you have? Always trimmed all the way down for your hole shot?

I take it you don't have trim tabs? They would provide a night and day difference. It was an option on these boats (and mine, too), but mine didn't have them. I added them in my driveway. Smart Tabs are another option - and a good one - but true tabs have more benefits. But keep in mind that this is not a style of boat that is meant for a super-fast hole shot... although watersports are not a problem for it, either.
 
I do have "some" knowledge. The 215 I used to own is essentially the same as your 225... and I happen to work at a Sea Ray dealership :)

Skip the hydrofoil - waste of money for a bigger boat. They only provide a fixed amount of "pounds of lift" - doesn't matter what boat they are on. Has more of an affect on lighter boats given the lift:weight ratio. And, sometimes, it actually hurts performance.

What drive do you have? Always trimmed all the way down for your hole shot?

I take it you don't have trim tabs? They would provide a night and day difference. It was an option on these boats (and mine, too), but mine didn't have them. I added them in my driveway. Smart Tabs are another option - and a good one - but true tabs have more benefits. But keep in mind that this is not a style of boat that is meant for a super-fast hole shot... although watersports are not a problem for it, either.

No trim tabs. I appreciate the advice. I have the alpha outdrive and I do trim all the way down til on plane. I considered a hydrofoil due to advice from a friend who has an older Bayliner and he said it helped. His boat is an early 90s 25' with the 5.7 merc. Interestingly he installed trim tabs and the hydrofoil at same time so I wonder if its the tabs that helped and not the "foil". I have tabs on previous boat but used mostly for stability and load from side to side. This Searay is incredibly stable that way....maybe old boat will be sold minus trim tabs...lol I don't need "out of the hole" speed for that matter. Didn't buy boat to go fast....just cruise
 
Welcome Brekto23. I currently have a 215 (but I added a swim platform ;)) that is a faux 225.
When I ordered my new canvas and vinyl, they gave me these clips that I slide into that channel and turns it into a snap, as opposed to sliding the rubber lip through the channel.
DOT-Snap-Windshield-Clips.jpg

Also, boating on Lake Superior, trim tabs are invaluable & I constantly use them.
 

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Welcome Brekto23. I currently have a 215 (but I added a swim platform ;)) that is a faux 225.
When I ordered my new canvas and vinyl, they gave me these clips that I slide into that channel and turns it into a snap, as opposed to sliding the rubber lip through the channel.
DOT-Snap-Windshield-Clips.jpg

Also, boating on Lake Superior, trim tabs are invaluable & I constantly use them.

hey that boat looks very familiar....lol where did the snaps come from? I have a canvas industry back ground so putting in snaps is....well a snap...(sorry about that Ihat to say it) I searched my catalogues and couldn't find...Thanks
 
hey that boat looks very familiar....lol where did the snaps come from? I have a canvas industry back ground so putting in snaps is....well a snap...(sorry about that Ihat to say it) I searched my catalogues and couldn't find...Thanks
Sorry about the delay Bretko.
Those clips came from Great Lakes Boat Top when I ordered my new canvas. They slide into the channel on the main windshield. My guess is they'd sell them separately . You probably wouldn't need more than a couple dozen. If you look at my boat pic closely, you can see the 'male' snaps in the channel. I'll try and find the name.
 
This topic has been beaten to death in the past, so I won’t get back into it too much here. A few things you might find helpful though. The configuration of the slot in the windshields changed over time. The Vadney clips fit the newer windshields (like the one on my 2009 330DA), but not the older windshields (like the one on my 2002 225WE). I don’t think those metal clips will fit in the windshield slot either. I tried them in the past with no success. Maybe they make different ones now and they fit. If so, that’s great, it would make it easy for anyone who wants to elimimate that rubber attachment thing and use regular snaps. I made lugs from King Starboard that fit into the slot and accept a snap stud, which eliminated the need for the rubber thing. If you are interested in considering that approach, there are several threads about it, or feel free to PM me.
 
Thanks Ollie....I have also been in touch with Taylormade who has something called a Vadney clip. Think I'll contact Great Lakes......great advice!! Thanks
*Palm on Forehead*
That's what they're called!!! I couldn't remember the name.
 
This topic has been beaten to death in the past, so I won’t get back into it too much here. A few things you might find helpful though. The configuration of the slot in the windshields changed over time. The Vadney clips fit the newer windshields (like the one on my 2009 330DA), but not the older windshields (like the one on my 2002 225WE). I don’t think those metal clips will fit in the windshield slot either. I tried them in the past with no success. Maybe they make different ones now and they fit. If so, that’s great, it would make it easy for anyone who wants to elimimate that rubber attachment thing and use regular snaps. I made lugs from King Starboard that fit into the slot and accept a snap stud, which eliminated the need for the rubber thing. If you are interested in considering that approach, there are several threads about it, or feel free to PM me.

Thanks for the tip.....
 

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