I've found two canvas shops to look into the work I need on my boat. I'm already getting hit with questions that I don't understand. Glass, what's the top middle and lower end of the line? Canvas, Sunbrella?
Guidance on canvas and glass
- Thread starter dwna1a
- Start date
- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,155
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
Canvas or top material used to all be Sunbrella. Sunbrella is a trade mark owned by Glen Raven Mills for a patented fabric coating. Their patent recently ran out and Glen Raven has tried to sell only thru distributor dealers in order to keep priced high. Fortunately, there are a number of other fabric suppliers that have comparable products now. SOme even have colors that match Sunbrella OEM colors exactly. There is no real need to use Sumbrella any longer as long as you shop around and find a fabric and installer that has a good warranty and will stand behind their work/products.
The inside of the canvas can be plain, vinyl coated (SeaMark) which does not leak and cannot breathe and so it tends to cause sweating and mildew in the cockpit and on the under side of the canvas top....... or flocked, which adds some cost but it breathable and resists leaking
You have 3 choices for the clear or "glass" panels as you call them. Plain clear vinyl, also called isinglass, is cheapest, has no UV protection, has no scratch preventative coating, and will turn brown near seams when it agers a little....3rd year. Strataglass is next, is more expensive does have both scratch preventative coatings and will not discolor as it ages if you give it normal care. Care is more specialized since you must use approved cleaner and polish. Both Islanglass and Strataglass can be rolled if you protect the clear panels with a soft cloth. Last and most expensive is polycarbonate sheet like Makrolon or EZ2CY. Both are very expensive, but as like looking thru glass. Neither can be rolled and both can be scratched easily if you don't care for them properly. Storage can be a problem since you cannot lay one panel on top of another.
You should be more than a little confused now................
The inside of the canvas can be plain, vinyl coated (SeaMark) which does not leak and cannot breathe and so it tends to cause sweating and mildew in the cockpit and on the under side of the canvas top....... or flocked, which adds some cost but it breathable and resists leaking
You have 3 choices for the clear or "glass" panels as you call them. Plain clear vinyl, also called isinglass, is cheapest, has no UV protection, has no scratch preventative coating, and will turn brown near seams when it agers a little....3rd year. Strataglass is next, is more expensive does have both scratch preventative coatings and will not discolor as it ages if you give it normal care. Care is more specialized since you must use approved cleaner and polish. Both Islanglass and Strataglass can be rolled if you protect the clear panels with a soft cloth. Last and most expensive is polycarbonate sheet like Makrolon or EZ2CY. Both are very expensive, but as like looking thru glass. Neither can be rolled and both can be scratched easily if you don't care for them properly. Storage can be a problem since you cannot lay one panel on top of another.
You should be more than a little confused now................
dcharna
New Member
- Aug 4, 2011
- 208
- Boat Info
- 2003 Sea Ray 340 Sundancer
- Engines
- Mercruiser 8.1's 370 hp
You need to go online and do some research. Everything depends upon how you use your boat, how long you are going to keep it, salt vs. fresh water, rolled up or never taken off, etc...
I think for starters, you are always safe with sunbrella but I would really check out the canvas shop to make sure they do quality work. I have found that Sunbrella typically does not fail, the seams, zippers and fit are what give you problems. Ask to see some boats he/she has done and really do your due diligence on the shop.
Secondly, I would choose the highest mil of glass you can for the intended purpose. If you are never going to take off the glass or roll it up, you can go heavier. Again, I am assuming you are going to keep the boat for awhile and not just trying to do a job to sell it.
Now is the time to make alterations to the existing set up. So, go on a bunch of websites and look at similar models for ideas of what they have done. You might not be able to do anything but there are always ingenious boaters who come up with great ideas. At least you can look at what colors are the sharpest.
Hope this helps a little. If you give us more information, you will find a wealth of ideas on this site.
Dan
I think for starters, you are always safe with sunbrella but I would really check out the canvas shop to make sure they do quality work. I have found that Sunbrella typically does not fail, the seams, zippers and fit are what give you problems. Ask to see some boats he/she has done and really do your due diligence on the shop.
Secondly, I would choose the highest mil of glass you can for the intended purpose. If you are never going to take off the glass or roll it up, you can go heavier. Again, I am assuming you are going to keep the boat for awhile and not just trying to do a job to sell it.
Now is the time to make alterations to the existing set up. So, go on a bunch of websites and look at similar models for ideas of what they have done. You might not be able to do anything but there are always ingenious boaters who come up with great ideas. At least you can look at what colors are the sharpest.
Hope this helps a little. If you give us more information, you will find a wealth of ideas on this site.
Dan
JimT
Well-Known Member
- Jul 7, 2009
- 1,910
- Boat Info
- 2010 330 Sundancer
- Engines
- T-350mags w/BIIIs & Axius, 5.0 kw Kohler
There is also Crystal Clear which is made by the same company that manufactures Strataglass. It has the clarity of Strataglass but doesn't have the scratch protective coating.
