Strataglass smiley faces, frowns and the like

M

mrsrobinson

Well-Known Member
Mar 9, 2006
7,704
Virginia
Boat Info
2001 380DA
Engines
Caterpillar 3126
I do not want to deal with taking down/putting up the canvas, especially over the windshield. I talked to the local canvas shop about installing smiley faces/frowns in the 3 panels above the windshield. They do it all the time but will not guarantee no leaks. I don't want to deal with leaks, drips and the like, at the same time I don't want to deal with climbing all over the windshield/foredeck to remove/reinstall it each time we are on the boat. I would also love the convenience of a quick "zip up" for bad weather.

It was not a big deal during our first trip last weekend. I can see it getting pretty hot in the cockpit though so I don't see leaving them up all spring/summer as an option.

  • For others who have had a similar "what do I do", what did you end up doing?
  • Why do some of you use smiley faces and some use frowns?
  • Can I unzip and pull the canvas back, attaching it to the top, with some kind of canvas shop modifications, without installing zippers?
  • I see some of you put U zippers in the port/starboard panel, but not the center panel, why?

Thanks
 
On our boat, the center panel is the only panel that opens up. With the center window flipped up and snapped to the radar arch and the windshield vent open, I rarely every feel its too hot to not have the sides on.

This works great for us. If it's really hot, I have taken down the small side curtains on the port and starboard side one time. It's likely the only modification you need to do is a few snaps on the radar arch. Worth a try before you go cutting up your canvas!

I am not a fan of putting U-zips in the canvas, its just asking for leaks.

IMG_8723.jpg
 
I had canvas made for that area. 99% of the time I run with it open. It’s much quicker to take down, wad up, and stick in a cabinet. I keep my glass tucked away for when it’s raining/cold or a potential for a rough lake. It keeps the glass like new for when you need it.
150AB089-A837-45C0-99F8-4601584819DC.jpeg
 
Hmm, I have seen this on boats. I assumed they had the canvas installed overtop of the glass to protect it from the sun, and maybe for heat as well. I was not aware it was 2 separate pieces.
 
mrsrobinson said:
Hmm, I have seen this on boats. I assumed they had the canvas installed overtop of the glass to protect it from the sun, and maybe for heat as well. I was not aware it was 2 separate pieces.
Click to expand...
I have seen it that way as well. I leave all three pieces zipped together so it goes on and off very quickly.
 
Frowns without straps. Edges have flat binding on outside to provide a dam and prevent heavy leaks and keeps the edges from curling. Seamstick under the binding and anitwick thread to help close up the seam punctures.

You can get an idea in this picture:

340SDA - FSrB - 3.jpg

The nice part with these is there is nothing hanging down in front of you while driving the boat. I do not use any permanent straps in this configuration. The frown can be opened slightly from the top to peak out of even on the worst weather days. Since I roll by opening down to the windshield frame it also does not add another line of sight blockage since the frame and the facing are already there. To hold the roll in place I use a back-to-back velcro strap passed under the facing.

The arch of the frown offers a more natural water path to run off to the sides where I feel the smile offers a channel to collect water at the bottom like a cup. I will not say it is 100% waterproof but even in the worst conditions with the frown closed I only get a few drop to the outside edges at the bottom.

Center Panel comes out on really hot days - although I am thinking of adding one anyway. Also thinking of a screen panel for buggy nights.

-Kevin
 
mrsrobinson said:
I do not want to deal with taking down/putting up the canvas, especially over the windshield. I talked to the local canvas shop about installing smiley faces/frowns in the 3 panels above the windshield. They do it all the time but will not guarantee no leaks. I don't want to deal with leaks, drips and the like, at the same time I don't want to deal with climbing all over the windshield/foredeck to remove/reinstall it each time we are on the boat. I would also love the convenience of a quick "zip up" for bad weather.

It was not a big deal during our first trip last weekend. I can see it getting pretty hot in the cockpit though so I don't see leaving them up all spring/summer as an option.

  • For others who have had a similar "what do I do", what did you end up doing?
  • Why do some of you use smiley faces and some use frowns?
  • Can I unzip and pull the canvas back, attaching it to the top, with some kind of canvas shop modifications, without installing zippers?
  • I see some of you put U zippers in the port/starboard panel, but not the center panel, why?
Thanks
Click to expand...
I would do them in polycarbonate and leave them. I don’t have a problem with heat with the vent and roof hatch. I Never take them out.

328E5FF3-5310-4F46-8F71-7D3503443DC0.jpeg
 
KevinC said:
Frowns without straps. Edges have flat binding on outside to provide a dam and prevent heavy leaks and keeps the edges from curling. Seamstick under the binding and anitwick thread to help close up the seam punctures.

You can get an idea in this picture:

View attachment 125593

The nice part with these is there is nothing hanging down in front of you while driving the boat. I do not use any permanent straps in this configuration. The frown can be opened slightly from the top to peak out of even on the worst weather days. Since I roll by opening down to the windshield frame it also does not add another line of sight blockage since the frame and the facing are already there. To hold the roll in place I use a back-to-back velcro strap passed under the facing.

The arch of the frown offers a more natural water path to run off to the sides where I feel the smile offers a channel to collect water at the bottom like a cup. I will not say it is 100% waterproof but even in the worst conditions with the frown closed I only get a few drop to the outside edges at the bottom.

Center Panel comes out on really hot days - although I am thinking of adding one anyway. Also thinking of a screen panel for buggy nights.

-Kevin
Click to expand...
Ok, this makes sense, I knew there was reason for the frowns. Line of sight blockage is a concern for me as well. Thanks.

Blueone said:
I would do them in polycarbonate and leave them. I don’t have a problem with heat with the vent and roof hatch. I Never take them out.

View attachment 125596
Click to expand...

Looks good, though I do not have a hard top. Once at cruise the windshield vent does help a lot, though when sitting at the dock, even in the upper 60s last weekend, it was warm in the cockpit.
 
mrsrobinson said:
Hmm, I have seen this on boats. I assumed they had the canvas installed overtop of the glass to protect it from the sun, and maybe for heat as well. I was not aware it was 2 separate pieces.
Click to expand...

I would be cautious about that. Sunbrella is not a particularly soft material and I would think that wind blowing will cause it to scratch the eisenglass below it as it flaps over the enclosure.

-Kevin
 
Blueone said:
I would do them in polycarbonate and leave them. I don’t have a problem with heat with the vent and roof hatch. I Never take them out.

View attachment 125596
Click to expand...

While I love the look of the poly on your boat and the clarity if offers I can only guess that the hardtop offers you a little more insulation on the hot days then a standard canvas package. I know on my boat there are hot days were we desperately need to cross breeze.

-Kevin
 
For me it was all about not having to remove panes, store them, etc. So everything stay on. I installed the longer top to have my seating area with shade, and all the aft panes roll up and get secured with snaps. The windshield panes are the hard plastic so it has better visibility, so instead of rolling them up, I pull them back and snap them to the radar arch. I just really enjoy the open concept underway, but I can snap everything back in seconds if needed when the weather turns. Nothing is removed or stored and I get all the fresh air I want. Love it. Few picks attached. Also the video under my signature shows a day I had two of the panes snapped up to the arch. Plenty of flexilibity.
 

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We had three smileys sewn into the front Strataglass. The two side panels coulld be unzipped then brought up to the first stainless support piece and snapped in place there. The center panel would be unzipped and rolled up.

Leakage? I got very little leakage even in a heavy rainstorm, but hey, it's a friggin boat. The small amount of leakage would run down the windshield, hit the forward side of the helm then just slide down to the helm. If it was raining hard I would keep a small dish towel rolled up on either side of the helm to catch it before it ran down to the floor.

In spring/summer/fall we removed all the side curtains except the forward ones and those could be rolled up and strapped in place. We live in an area where heat is more a problem than rain so we only put up the rest of the windows in the winter.

P8020055.jpg
 
Smileys on my boat leaked from the time they were installed until I sold the boat. Tried seam sealer and all other manner of “solutions.” Nothing helped.
 
We have a black canvas top so it really can produce some heat. Our center windshield panel can be unzipped from inside and snapped up, the power vent open and we have frowns in the helm side curtains which all help push the heat out the back of the boat. I had smiles before and the issue there is they need to be snapped up out of the way, with frowns you just let them droop.
 
Kevin is right on the money for benefits of a frown, as well as the method of construction to mitigate against leaks.

I had frowns installed in my front windows as well, port and starboard. They had a strip of window material sew over the outside of the zipper as a shield to keep rain out. You can see in the pic below that the rain flap is edged with sunbrella. With a frown, the bottom of the window is solid so the rain runs off instead of collecting in the zipper of a smile. With my frown configuration I did not get leaks - which was important because the windows were right over the dash.

To reiterate the plusses of a frown vs. smile:
  • Can unzip just the top for better visibility without letting in too much rain/spray.
  • More leak resistant because the bottom is solid.
  • Top of opening part folds down for less visual obstruction.
I had straps sewn in to each panel so the frown could be rolled and secured when open.

As to why no zipper in the center window: many our our boats have a center walk through. You have to unsnap and minimally unzip the sides of the center panel to get to open the window and get to the bow. I didn't make sense to me to add a zip when the panel had to be opened anyway. Instead, I had straps sewn into the top edge. I would open the panel, roll it up, and secure it with straps. The side panels could be left in place an unzipped.

Aj 14a.jpg
Aj 8.jpg
 
KevinC said:
I would be cautious about that. Sunbrella is not a particularly soft material and I would think that wind blowing will cause it to scratch the eisenglass below it as it flaps over the enclosure.

-Kevin
Click to expand...
Agreed, not something I would do myself

KevinC said:
To hold the roll in place I use a back-to-back velcro strap passed under the facing.
Click to expand...
I can't get a visual on this, do you have a pic?
 
mrsrobinson said:
I can't get a visual on this, do you have a pic?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I do not have a picture handy. I will see if I can find one later.

Its pretty basic. I use Velcro One-Wrap and slide it out between the visor facing and the windshield with the "fuzzy soft" side facing the eisenglass. Then roll the opening and simply grab the piece now outside and attach to the piece inside around the roll. You can then choose to roll loose or tight depending on your needs.

When done and closing up just unhook the velcro from itself and slide out. Loop the velcro and store.

BTW, I use One-Wrap for a ton of things on the boat. I have a bunch pre-cut for special purposes like putting up Christmas lights around the bow rail.

-Kevin
 
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