Moving from Polycarbonate to Strataglass

[Irie308]

So I put up my bridge enclosure this weekend and was surprised to find that my forward facing panel has completely crazed over. I saw slight signs in the lower corner this past summer and figured it would gradually get worse but out of the sleeve this spring the whole panel is shot. Kinda of annoying as the whole bridge enclosure was north of 12k in 2019. Not a single scratch and in the right light it looks brand new. However as soon as the sunlight hits it you can see the whole panel is crazed. I also see that my starboard panel is about a third crazed over so I assume the rest will follow suit. This has me rethinking the next time i may go to strataglass vs the ploycarbonate as they look good but just don't last past 5 years without crazing. My old enclosure looks to have been strata. It was cloudy in some areas but it was original and 14 years old. I would estimate it was good for at least 10 years of its life. That's worth the money in my opinion. Can anyone speak to the longevity of strataglass?

 

[Skybolt]

@Irie308 Dean, I went through this last summer. I replaced my polycarbonate front glass with the thickest I could get, Strata 80 I believe it was. The way my helm is My head is close to the top and my forward window panels are snapped back and not rolled. When I put the drivers side panel up the corners hung down and hit me in the head, even with the thicker Strata. I hated it so much, I had it redone by someone else with the polycarbonate again. I paid $850 for the three Strata glass panels and $650 to have them redone that same summer. Just pointing that out, I know you have a lot more head room then I do at the helm so maybe that won't be an issue.

EDIT: My whole surround in front of the arch is polycarbonate even though I know it won't last that long. I really like that look so much better.

 

[PlayDate]

The issue is the coatings. Strataglass has been around for a long time. Sailrite sells both O'Sea and Strataglass and the key to their success is the UV and scratch resistant coatings that they use.

Crazing is usually UV related. All vinyl based products break down eventually but at least for those two manufacturers ......they last a lot longer.

As a test......I made panels of normal canvas vinyl, O'Sea and Strataglass. While it was not scientific other than laying them outside next to each other in the summer months...... O'Sea and Strataglass had no issues getting baked in the sun. The marine vinyl was yellow and crazed by the end of the summer.

As to the thickness.......I use 40 gauge for my projects.

If you want to do your own experiment....Sailrite sells a Sample pack of all the top brands for $29.

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[Blueone]

The issue is the coatings.

True….. from my understanding polycarbonate coatings don’t craze with new coatings they are using now. I am going to replace my poly next year so havnt really dug into this but worth asking a very good reputable canvas shop what the latest is on crazing

 

[ttmott]

One thing about the polycarbonate - it is glued/bonded to the canvas surround and zippers. Not stitched for the most part. I have heard of some stitching but the manuf warrantee is void. So that says the canvas component is a one time use. I'm on round two going on round three using the same canvas with O'Sea. Here in the Fl sun I really only get four good years from any vinyl. I did replace the zipper pulls last round though. Just some more food for thought.

 

[Blueone]

One thing about the polycarbonate - it is glued/bonded to the canvas surround and zippers. Not stitched for the most part. I have heard of some stitching but the manuf warrantee is void. So that says the canvas component is a one time use. I'm on round two going on round three using the same canvas with O'Sea. Here in the Fl sun I really only get four good years from any vinyl. I did replace the zipper pulls last round though. Just some more food for thought.

My poly is stitched

 

[ttmott]

My poly is stitched

View attachment 160688

One thing about the polycarbonate - it is glued/bonded to the canvas surround and zippers. Not stitched for the most part. I have heard of some stitching but the manuf warrantee is void. So that says the canvas component is a one time use. I'm on round two going on round three using the same canvas with O'Sea. Here in the Fl sun I really only get four good years from any vinyl. I did replace the zipper pulls last round though. Just some more food for thought.

Opps that's Acrylic that needs to be bonded not polycarbonate - my bad.

 

[Irie308]

One thing about the polycarbonate - it is glued/bonded to the canvas surround and zippers. Not stitched for the most part. I have heard of some stitching but the manuf warrantee is void. So that says the canvas component is a one time use. I'm on round two going on round three using the same canvas with O'Sea. Here in the Fl sun I really only get four good years from any vinyl. I did replace the zipper pulls last round though. Just some more food for thought.

Kinda sucks that we run them in the sun for 6 months out of the year up here in the NE and we only get 4-5 seasons. Would think they would last twice as long. I take them down every winter and store them to keep the heat from the shrinkwrap away as well as the frame guys with the 2x4's. At this rate i should have saved myself the work and just left them up.

The look of poly is great but the work to keep them looking nice is just too much especially if they don't last. Will check around to see what coatings are available but my local guy said "yup 5 years thats all you get".

 

[Stee6043]

FWIW I recently dropped my glass off to have it replaced after 6 seasons of use. The company I use said they recently changed from Strataglass to O'Sea because of quality issues they were having with Strata.

Just thought I'd share...