Polycarbonate windows

Great Lakes

Well-Known Member
Oct 11, 2016
1,444
Lake St. Clair - Michigan (MacRay Harbor)
Boat Info
2008 - Formula 400ss
Engines
Volvo Penta D6-350
Alright fellas, I got a quote for new polycarbonate windows and canvas around windows. The quote is from a well known place in my area and he does great work. He recommended to go with this stuff. I want the no wrinkle look, is this the only material to use? The quote was actually lees than I thought it would be so I'm excited about that part

Give me the pros and cons

Go...!
 
http://www.clubsearay.com/index.php?threads/heads-up-markolon-problems.36062/


This goes back a few years, but it is from first hand experience with polycarbonate sheet. Please read the thread and then look up the warranty on the product you wish to purchase. Remember, it is the polycarbonate manufacturer that must ultimately stand behind the product and after my experience with Makrolon, I urge you to get any warranty in writing because your canvas guy is going to be holding the bag, which means you can't find him if you have a problem, when his vendor refuses to replace failed panels.

Also, I am using 30ga Strataglass again. I would use EZ2CY if we had a local vendor/installer. They sell only to dealers so your canvas shop must be a dealer to even buy the clear panels. There is a very large franchise fee to become a dealer and they closely protect territories. We have a great and very professional canvas and upholstery shop but he has to have a dealer 150 miles away construct the panels. The cost a couple of years ago was 5X the cost of Strataglass…….and you still had the Sunbrella, zippers and thread to degrade in the sun.

Just do your homework and be very careful.
 
I concur with fwebster, the polycarbonate will begin to craze wherever it is installed around a radius a bend like at the corners of the enclosure.
I’m going with Strato Glas after way too much research and hand ringing. May use Markalon for flat panels only
 
Is strataglass cheaper or more expensive? Will it give me the tight no wrinkles look?

I have strataglass panels....here is a pic of my top for reference....

cliff

DSC_0821.JPG
 
I went with Polycarbonate just over two years ago. I was not aware of the problems described by Frank. I don't see any signs of failure what so ever. The stuff looks brand new still. We have been very happy with the product and it's clarity.

It is easy to maintain.. to wash the outside I just use the same soft brush I clean the rest of the boat with and there are no signs of scratching. The inside we use a Microfiber cloth and water. Millers (near you) did ours and he recommended a certain brand of cleaner/protector that I use a few times a year. I don't recall the name of it but he has it there at the shop.

Getting the panels out on those hot days is no different then the stock panels. The only thing is you have to stow them flat.


Poly 1a.jpg
poly 2a.jpg
 
We had polycarbonate windows they were crazed and looked horrible. I think they were about 6 years old, 5 years of which was spend in SC. I replaced them with Makralon and 3 years in, no crazing and they look great... but that's in NJ with winters under shrink wrap. I think location (ie. sun/UV exposure) might make a difference with regard to this issue.
 
Miller's is who I got a quote from today. He actually showed me photos of your boat, lol. Belle Maer? I'm starting to second guess it but then I see yours and that's how I want mine to look. Now I'm confused by these negative comments..

Why don't you ask Dennis what his thoughts are as it relates to Franks comments. I would be curious to know what he says
 
EZ2CY here and wouldn't hesitate to use it again. I have two panels with very large bends and they are fine. My enclosure is about 7 years old and just shows fine scratches from cleaning/handling but people still comment on it's clarity all the time. Now if the Sunbrella around it would have held up as well...
 
EZ2CY here and wouldn't hesitate to use it again. I have two panels with very large bends and they are fine. My enclosure is about 7 years old and just shows fine scratches from cleaning/handling but people still comment on it's clarity all the time. Now if the Sunbrella around it would have held up as well...
I too have the EZ2CY windows around the bridge enclosure. Very happy with it, although I don't open the windows too much due to having bridge A/C.
 
Not exactly sure what the material is that I have on the bridge, was there when purchased.

It does have fasteners on the underside of the hardtop, so when opening a panel you never fold or roll, but open it and fasten flat above your head.

Did something similar with the front panel on the 47db that we had. Works well protecting the material.

Mark
 
Very happy with it, although I don't open the windows too much due to having bridge A/C.

Same here, only open them when we're at our destination. My center panel on all four sides snaps up to the hardtop.
 
I went with Polycarbonate just over two years ago. I was not aware of the problems described by Frank. I don't see any signs of failure what so ever. The stuff looks brand new still. We have been very happy with the product and it's clarity.

It is easy to maintain.. to wash the outside I just use the same soft brush I clean the rest of the boat with and there are no signs of scratching. The inside we use a Microfiber cloth and water. Millers (near you) did ours and he recommended a certain brand of cleaner/protector that I use a few times a year. I don't recall the name of it but he has it there at the shop.

Getting the panels out on those hot days is no different then the stock panels. The only thing is you have to stow them flat.


View attachment 52659 View attachment 52660
You may get great service life out of yours, on the DB flybridge the radi of the wind shield corners are much smaller. The issue is the hard scratch proof surface is harder than the base material and the out side of the plastic panels try to stretch and thus the surface fails and crazes in short order. A friend with a Silverton 34 only got about 13 months before it began to show signs of failing at the corners. Not happy
 
I've got a tiny crack at each corner of my front panels - EZ2CY...used a tiny drill to "stop drill" the cracks from growing...basically invisible so more of a pain to have my dealer replace it...
 
You guys with Makralon(sp?) or EZ2CY, I have a question for you.

If the window pieces have a bend in them, when you take them down do they have to be stored with the bend in them or can they be stored flat?

I'm getting a whole new upper done in March and not sure if I want the front pieces made of strataglas or one of the stiffer products.
 
My experience with EZ2CY, ours is around 8-10 years old and I was looking to have them replaced but the canvas (auth EZ2CY dealer) Sid he would BuFF them and he did they look amazing saved a few thousand dollars. When you replace EZ2CY you need to replace the canvas also as it cannot be sewn.

Ps, we do not take ours down for winter it’s an all day project so the marina throws blankets over the outside where the shrinkrpwrap may touch the glass I would definitely do at least the front glass,,
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,945
Messages
1,422,742
Members
60,928
Latest member
rkaleda
Back
Top