Rain-X on Isenglass

E

earthmover17

New Member
Jan 3, 2008
706
land o lakes florida
Boat Info
560 sedan bridge
Engines
cat 3196
Anyone ever used Rain-X on their Isenglass? I was wondering what the long term affects would be. I would hate to start using it and find out that 6 months later I had to replace it all.

Jack
 
Rain X is a solvent for the coatings and plasticizers in eisinglass and in Strataglass. It might look good for a while, but using Rain X will shorten its life because it dissolves the protection and leaches the plasticizer out of the plastic. After a while, the clear panels become cloudy and brittle.

Now if you are going to sell your boat and want a quick, look good fix..........but that would be sort of like putting saw dust in a used car's differential. You'd need to get her gone quickly.
 
Pledge. Regular Pledge, no lemon scent or fufu stuff makes for a great in between Plexus or 10/17 treatment.
 
303 Aerospace Protectant is great for just about everything. It's like a cross between rain-x and armor all, and it's specifically recommended on isinglass. Definitely a worthy addition to any cleaning/polishing arsenal IMO.
 
The best thing I have found is Yacht Brite Serious Shine on all the windows and eisenglass / strataglass / poly. Works perfect!
 
Not on isenglas. I use the 210 stuff which I SWEAR is lemon pledge. Smells like it and acts like it. RainX I think is lighter fluid! HAHA!
 
Pledge is even worse than Rain-X. It also has chemicals that leach the plasticizer out of eisinglass so after a while the eisinglass will get hard and brittle. The added factor with Pledge is that it will coat the surface with a "wax" that yellows in the sun if you don't wash it off..........what good is it if you have to wash it off?



IT may cost a little more but why not use what the vinyl makers recommend?


This is from the Strataglass site:

Strataglass Care & Maintenance!
It is extremely important fabricators and vessel & car owners read and understand this information. We request fabricators provide owners a copy of this sheet.

We recommend using only IMAR Products. IMAR Strataglass Protective Polish, IMAR Strataglass Protective Cleaner, and mild soap (preferably IMAR Yacht Soap Concentrate) on Strataglass. (We no longer recommend the use of any other products, regardless of the manufacturer's claims.) Use of harsh cleaners like Simple Green and/or pine will dull the curtains quickly.
After September 30, 2004, using any other product(s) void the factory warranty

NEVER use a wash and wax product on Strataglass.


- Warning
*Use of RAINEX on Strataglass appears to work for a short time but then dulls the surface and presents an "Orange Peel" effect. Do not use RAINEX.
*Use of cleaners, polishes, scratch removers, or any other product made for regular, uncoated vinyl will damage STRATAGLASS. Do not use these products
* DO NOT HANDLE STRATAGLASS (OR ANY VINYL) WITH SUNSCREEN ON YOUR HANDS! This will permanently cloud the vinyl where handled.

Both Imar Cleaner and Polish spray on and wipe off with a clean dry towel....... I wish everything on my boat was as easy to maintain as the vinyl curtains. I have Makrolon panels forward of the arch and I only use Plexus on them.
 
Last edited:
Just spend the $20 on a can of Plexus. It will last all season long. Is that too much to protect such an expensive item? What is it a dollar each time you clean for the best stuff you can buy?
 
Novus plastic polish here, although I have heard great things about Plexus.
 
Is it just me but why the hell would someone go out and buy a $2 can of Pledge and use on $5000 worth of canvas?! Especially when the manufacturer says not to... Why?! To "save" 5 bucks?

I use comet cleanser on my car... works great... cheaper than that automotive wax crap...
 
sfergson727 said:
They also told us not to use pledge, for what it's worth...
Click to expand...

Funny, I have been using pledge when all there was was original and not lemon scented. Anyway, I use lemon scented once a month since I cannot find the "original" the past several years (over 10) during boating season and I get positive comments ALL the time about how nice it looks.

Has yet to cloud up or even look like it will cloud up... :huh:

I use pledge then wipe off using a micro fiber cloth (I wash before applying with fresh water...)
 
Last edited:
I have used Meguiars products for 10 years and it has been good, ultimately buy something made from you Isinglass.
 
sfergson727 said:
If you want to jeopardize your isinglass, be my guest, but you are doing a disservice to every newbie that reads this, uses pledge and then can't figure out why their isinglass is toast.
Click to expand...

Your engine will run with cheap fryolator oil. Why buy that expensive Mercury stuff?
 
sfergson727 said:
If you want to jeopardize your isinglass, be my guest, but you are doing a disservice to every newbie that reads this, uses pledge and then can't figure out why their isinglass is toast.
Click to expand...

I just read a bunch of posts and not one was from someone that actually uses pledge but they were fast to knock it down... So I thought it important to note I have and do use it, a lot... I do use 3M plastic cleaner to take out fine lines and scratches from seat backs laying against it...

I was using pledge before all the other stuff became available. I doubt I am doing a disservice but if I am, don't read my posts or if you do, use the stuff that is recommended for your isinglass. I'm just relating what I have found works very well. I'm not doing it to save a buck either... My father used it and I continue to use it and we have been boating since the early 60's... Not sure when Isinglass first hit the market but I know what works... BTW, been using pledge on my convertibles back windows and that is made of basically the same stuff... So far so good with my two show cars... a '55 and '56 tbird...
 
Go Aweigh2452 said:
I just read a bunch of posts and not one was from someone that actually uses pledge but they were fast to knock it down... So I thought it important to note I have and do use it, a lot... I do use 3M plastic cleaner to take out fine lines and scratches from seat backs laying against it...

I was using pledge before all the other stuff became available. I doubt I am doing a disservice but if I am, don't read my posts or if you do, use the stuff that is recommended for your isinglass. I'm just relating what I have found works very well. I'm not doing it to save a buck either... My father used it and I continue to use it and we have been boating since the early 60's... Not sure when Isinglass first hit the market but I know what works... BTW, been using pledge on my convertibles back windows and that is made of basically the same stuff... So far so good with my two show cars... a '55 and '56 tbird...
Click to expand...

I've heard it works well too, but never have tried it. I use Meguiar's plastic polish and cleaner.

The original question Scott is regarding Rain -X which has chemicals that will alter the isenglass compounds and possibly break down the plasticizers in the product.

If you look here it claims even safe for plastics.
http://www.pledge.com/multi-surface-cleaner/default.aspx
 
sfergson727 said:
Yes, and we answered that. Now we are talking about the use of pledge. BTW, I think when they say plastic, they are talking about the enclosures that your tv and stereo are made of, not clear plastic isinglass. There is a difference, believe it or not.
Click to expand...

I understand that. I use what is recommended. Boats are too expensive to do otherwise, but if other's like Doug have had great success over decades with it with no issues it's tough to challenge it out of hand.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,185
Messages
1,428,144
Members
61,094
Latest member
Linword
Back
Top