Isinglass - To Remove Or Roll

On our 02 380 DA, the configuration is a Bimini extending from the arch all the way to the trunk. Are we better to take the two sides and aft Isinglass panels home and store them flattened out, or left rolled up? We use the boat on the weekends and at least once during the week for a sunset cruise. Most of the summer has passed, but here in Florida, it stays hot for a few months to come. Our boat is in a covered slip with minimum bird activity.... we are very lucky there. I don't see us wanting to put up the Isinglass until Late October.

It would seem to me that leaving the Isinglass rolled up would make things worse rather than taking them home to store flat. The only downsides that comes to mind is if we travel somewhere and we get driving rain, our cockpit will get wet, but this is no big deal to us. The other downside is not being able to take advantage of the screens for the bugs. Our little no-see-ums manage to find a way in so they can still put a damper on the nights fun.

I am sure there are some other down-sides to not having them on and ready to use, so please share your thoughts. They are only 5 months old and I would like to keep them in the best shape possible. I will include a picture for reference.

Thanks for any help or comments offered.

Vince

According to my canvas fabricator, store flat with a sheet or something similar in between panels to protect them. Obviously don't out anything heavy on top of them.

Flat under a bed at home with sheets between will keep them perfect and out of the way.

We do it a bit differently. I put 3 pieces of 1x3 on the roof of the garage and screwed cup hangers into them, spaced about 3" apart. I have the 1x3's spaced about 18" apart (to align with the garage roof joists). That allows me to hang each of the isinglass panels from the cup hangers using the heavy black clips used to hold papers.

When hanging, the panels don't touch each other, hang vertically, and keep their shape until next fall.

Creekwood said:

Flat under a bed at home with sheets between will keep them perfect and out of the way.

Click to expand...

That's what my mom does with hers so its definetly the way to go for winter storage

Hi there.

Thanks for all the ideas & comments. Lots to think about. Seems the consensus is to remove and replace when it starts to cool off.... late October or early November for us here. Guess we will plan on removing them this week.

Appreciate the input.

Vince

We do this a lttle differently than others have mentioned. We store panels rolled up and clean, always with a good Pexus treatment. The key to rolling eisenglass safely and preserving its clarity is to roll it in large rolls and not too tightly. Also you need a good place to store it. On our boat there is ample space beneath the queen sized bed. Our boat had 19 year old canvas that looked nearly new when we sold it this spring. The buyer thought it was new until I explained to him how to maintain it in excellent condition. That is, keep it clean with regular washing using micro fiber towels. Use Plexus on a regular schedule. Store it dry with no tight rolls, in a clean dry place.