How to Roll Up Front Isinglass Question

OllieC

OllieC

Well-Known Member
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Mar 11, 2013
6,844
N.W. ‘Sconnie
Boat Info
Sara Belle
2005 Weekender 215
Engines
Mercruiser 5.0 mpi, Bravo III
Good afternoon. Hopefully most of you are warm! It's a tropical 1º here in beautiful Minneapolis.

How do you roll up your isinglass while underway to allow airflow? Sometimes it gets really hot and I either have to completely remove the front panels or unzip the center one and flip it on top of the Bimini. Of course doing that, it inevitably flips right back down.

I see small straps with the isinglass rolled up on the inter-web, but I don't want straps flopping around while not in use underway. Are they removable straps? Do I install snaps on both sides of the isinglass and make my own straps? Velcro? Is there a way to make my own?
 
This really comes down to personal preference and how much time/money you want to put into it. Compared to what you've already been doing with the center piece, it's only one more little zipper to remove the whole thing and stow below. That would be your easiest way. Yes, you could install straps - either ones where they snap back on themselves (or stretched out port to stbd under the bimini) when not being used, or unsnap completely. Pretty straight forward install and not that expensive. Another way to go would be to have smilies installed in the 3 forward pieces... although some prefer frownies.
 
I had the same problem. I fixed it when I had my windows remade 2 years ago. This is a picture of my setup.

Aj 14a.jpg

For the left and right panels I had zippers installed. Most of the time I just unzip and use a webbing strap to hold the window in place. It attaches via snaps over the window and to the outside.

The zipper wouldn't work for the center panel since it's a walk-through. To prevent the same flapping / falling problem, I the center panel rolls up and is held with a similar pair of straps. The straps are attached to the inside, and when holding the panel snap to a point on the outside. The outer snap is also the attachment point for the webbing strap.

Each panel also has a pair of snap studs attached to the inside. When the straps are not in use the female snap at the end of the strap attaches to the male snap on the panel. This keeps the straps tidy and out of the way when not holding the windows. Alternatively, the male snap can be attached to the strap near the base; this was how my old windows were set up. There's no functional difference.

Since adding the straps / zippers I basically never remove the panels, they just get rolled up/down.
 
For the most part we keep our front visors up but be also have "frowns" sewn in - however when the weather is really nice and hot we will take down the entire enclosure roll it up and store it away. For quick and easy access I would recommend sewing in zippers - this way you can adjust the opening size also and air flow and can be done even while the boat is moving - that is why I prefer frowns over smiles for these openings.

As far as straps go my preference is for completely removable straps - I don't like them flapping around when not it use. What we do install a male stud back to back through the fabric and then have a regular snap cap on both ends of the strap.

In your situation if you don't want to go the zipper route the one thing that come to mind is installing studs in your top that you center visor panel could snap to. That way you could open just that one pane and it would not keep flopping back down.

-Kevin
 
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Pictured here are two smiles I put in a clients enclosure that we made. Notice no straps - only the stud base centered to the top. Then look at the picture with it rolled up. You just snap the strap on both sides. Works great!
DSC_0780.JPG DSC_0784.JPG
-Kevin
 
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i used to own a 215EC so i am familiar with your set up....have you considered leaving the bottom of the center panel embedded in the window channel and just unzipping the sides and top from the other panels and top and laying the center panel forward?.....

cliff
 
I did away with the straps this time and just
Fold mine back and snap it to the arch.
Works great.
20190225_151021.jpg
 
Is there any difference to having a frowney over a smiley Do the smileys leak?
 
joeyleggz said:
Is there any difference to having a frowney over a smiley Do the smileys leak?
Click to expand...

I prefer the "frown" in my visor setup for a couple of reasons:

1) When completely open it up and it is rolled the bundle is down by windshield frame and not hanging in my line of site.
2) If I need to open it a little (for better air control or for visibility) I can zipper the top open just a little and it will hang backwards hard to do that when the zipper opening is at the bottom. Also the top of the frown is closer to my line of sight when at the helm.
3) The frown tends to naturally distribute any rain down both sides of the zipper to the bottom where a smile funnels it and accumulates it and the bottom.

-Kevin
 
KevinC said:
I prefer the "frown" in my visor setup for a couple of reasons:

1) When completely open it up and it is rolled the bundle is down by windshield frame and not hanging in my line of site.
2) If I need to open it a little (for better air control or for visibility) I can zipper the top open just a little and it will hang backwards hard to do that when the zipper opening is at the bottom. Also the top of the frown is closer to my line of sight when at the helm.
3) The frown tends to naturally distribute any rain down both sides of the zipper to the bottom where a smile funnels it and accumulates it and the bottom.

-Kevin
Click to expand...
That makes sense except on my boat while up on plane my line of sight is closer to the window frame then towards the top of the Bimini
 
joeyleggz said:
That makes sense except on my boat while up on plane my line of sight is closer to the window frame then towards the top of the Bimini
Click to expand...

Yep... thats why I referenced "in my setup". In the picture I posted above on a clients enclosure we used smiles to put it up close to hardtop with removable straps. Every install is different and subject to personal preference too.

-Kevin
 
KevinC said:
For the most part we keep our front visors up but be also have "frowns" sewn in - however when the weather is really nice and hot we will take down the entire enclosure roll it up and store it away. For quick and easy access I would recommend sewing in zippers - this way you can adjust the opening size also and air flow and can be done even while the boat is moving - that is why I prefer frowns over smiles for these openings.

As far as straps go my preference is for completely removable straps - I don't like them flapping around when not it use. What we do install a male stud back to back through the fabric and then have a regular snap cap on both ends of the strap.

In your situation if you don't want to go the zipper route the one thing that come to mind is installing studs in your top that you center visor panel could snap to. That way you could open just that one pane and it would not keep flopping back down.

-Kevin
Click to expand...
Where do you find back to back Male Studs? That's what I was thinking but couldn't find anything.
 
CliffA said:
i used to own a 215EC so i am familiar with your set up....have you considered leaving the bottom of the center panel embedded in the window channel and just unzipping the sides and top from the other panels and top and laying the center panel forward?.....

cliff
Click to expand...
Yes, however sometimes my 'not so little one' likes to sit up in the center - then I would have to remove it completely again. If I can find a way to do male-to-male studs I'd go that rout, then my next order of glass have them do frowns or smiles zippers.
 
OllieC said:
Ha Ha! Left myself open for that one.

I think I found a gypsy stud on sail right that may work.
Click to expand...

Yeah, just kidding around...

Yes, that would be gypsy stud mounted to a standard stud. The only problem is you would need a tool like the Pres-N-Snap to install as standard punch type will probably not work. By mixing the die sets you can get it to work.

We have the parts and tools in stock if you need them (www.covemarine.com) feel free to PM or call me.

-Kevin
 
OllieC said:
Yes, however sometimes my 'not so little one' likes to sit up in the center - then I would have to remove it completely again. If I can find a way to do male-to-male studs I'd go that rout, then my next order of glass have them do frowns or smiles zippers.
Click to expand...

We can get you the visors direct from Great Lakes if interested. Only problem is they will not install the zippers. That would need to be done locally. We could do it but I would need to have them shipped here and then to you and with the extra shipping it might be cheaper locally.

-Kevin
 
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