Best Material for Dodger Windows?

[RaptorDance]

Message Hi folks!

OK - Raptor Dance is coming up on her 9th birthday soon, December - Gosh!

5 years ago we had the Dodger window material replaced, but it's aged and gone hazy and not it's time to replace it again.

This time we're going to replace the Sunbrella too (the side windows, we have a factory hard dodger). The Sunbrella is 9 years old and the UV in tropics really takes a toll.

So - here's the question. What's the best material currently on the market to use for Dodger windows? Strataglass 40 gauge? http://www.strataglass.com/ or http://www.sailrite.com/Strataglass-...=2&category=38

Or is there something better out there?

I'm starting to lust after my neighbors hard windows on their HR-46... ;-)

We're going to have our local high quality operation "A Stitch in Time Canvas" in Jerretaderas, Nayarit, Mexico do the work over the summer while we're back in California.

Regards,
Bill Finkelstein
Valiant 50 107 - Raptor Dance
Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit, Mexico

[Minggat]

I vote Makrolon.

[RaptorDance]

The problem with Makrolon is that it is a rigid polycarbonate material (like the more commonly found in the US, Lexan)... Won't work in our application where a flexible product is needed.

[bobfnbw]

Bill I just received some Strataglass 40 guage for our dodger bimini that we will be doing this spring.. sometime. After a lot of research I thought that it was the best choice. I also purchased the products that they recomend for cleaning and waxing them. I will use sunbrella shade to cover them. For side windows I will use the 30 guage.

BTW loved your Chili mole receipe! Kids wouln'd eat it much, but for me... was real fine.
Bob

[Pblais]

We have half tempered autoglass on the lower half and Strataglass on the top. The real glass on the bottom is not a large enough area to be a problem and takes abeating. Startaglass has the best visibility, but you can't bend it easily into compund curves and you should only use the cleaner they sell for it.

[RaptorDance]

Thanks for the kind words about our recipe... Don't know if you saw that we won the Chili cookoff again this year with a totally Vegan Chili recipe (OK - so it's not real chili, but it still won!). see Blog of the Sailing Vessel Raptor Dance: Veggie Raptor Chili Recipe

[Minggat]

Makrolon is sewn into my dodger and is flexable enough to do the job without wrinkles, which is part of what give it so much clarity. I had my side curtains made out of stataglass so they could be rolled up and stored. With the makrolon right next to the strataglass your can see that strataglass has graininess.

Not all canvas shops can sew Makrolon. It does have flexability. Just not enought to roll it up if that's what you want.

[RaptorDance]

Since Makrolon is a broad application polycarbonate, is there a specific product name or description for the flexible material that can be used in a Dodger? Also what thickness is it?

[Minggat]

Mine is 60 gauge. My friend (Pelican Canvas Products, San Pedro California) tells me he has seen it in service 6 years looking like the day it was installed. His Bayer Makrolon rep says they don't know the end of it's life yet.

Water bottles are made out of it. Unfortunately they are around a long time out in the elements once they have outlived their usefulness.