The BEST Dodger & Enclosure

[High Cotton]

What's the BEST plastic for enclosure windows ??????

Some use EISENGLASS, some use STRATAGLASS........

What else is available and what's the best in your opinion ???

I've done a "search" but I know there's newer stuff out there....

I want to have a complete enclosure made and don't know much about them....... any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Pblais]

Strataglass is the best and is a brand name so no one else makes it. For a dodger I would choose that. The difference in clarity is easily noticed. For a full encloure it gets a bit spendy as Startglass costs quite a bit more. Given you are not using that much in a dodger it's worth it. With Stratglass you can leave the glass closed unless you need the breeze. Only hitch is never clean it with anything other than clear water unless it's the cleaner they require you to use. It's picky stuff about chemicals but holds up as well or better than anything else will.

With the pressed poly or extruded poly it's not as clear and I left the dodger glass open in fair weather when we had that. Extruded and pressed poly are not as clear but may have advantages (cost and weight). I'm not aware if any of the brand names are better or worse but you will find different thicknesses available depending on the application. There are different thicknesses and so the thinner material may be better for enclosure pannels you may want to roll and store since they roll easier and you may not have them up all the time. You normally won't remove a dodger except to clean it.

[Pblais]

Eisenglass is not really a product it was used in the old stoves and was made from clear Mica, a mineral that has pretty clear properties and will take high temperatures. It was brittle and they only used in small areas say 2 inches square.

[High Cotton]

Oh, I thought there was an "eisenglass" used for dodgers........my bad...

[Pblais]

I thought there was an "eisenglass" used for dodgers

It's more of a slang expression for the glass in them since it isn't real glass.

[AnchorageGuy]

Keep in mind that the Stratoglass does not like and really should not be rolled up. So using it means leaving it in place all of the time or devising a way to "fold" it out of the way to allow for air flow.

[High Cotton]

Originally Posted by Chuck Baier

Keep in mind that the Stratoglass does not like and really should not be rolled up. So using it means leaving it in place all of the time or devising a way to "fold" it out of the way to allow for air flow.

Did NOT know that..... thanks!

[Kanani]

See if this helps:
Strataglass, Crystal Clear, Kal Glass - Vinyl Window Material for the Marine Market

I recommend KalGlass

Make sure that you bookmark this website. No boat owner should be without it.

[High Cotton]

Originally Posted by Chuck Baier

Keep in mind that the Stratoglass does not like and really should not be rolled up. So using it means leaving it in place all of the time or devising a way to "fold" it out of the way to allow for air flow.

Chuck, is that what the Strataglass people recommend, is not to roll it up ??? What happens to it when it gets repeatedly "rolled" ?
If that's the case, I won't be buying that stuff !

[AnchorageGuy]

First, the stuff is so stiff you can't really roll it tight or it takes three people. It will scratch from rubbing against itself. It is a thin plastic. we receive new boats from the factory this way and they either are fixed with no zippers or a zipper is attached to the hardtop so it can be fold up flat and zipped in place that way. But they still sag a bit. It is designed for a more permanent kind of install. we have seen folks put it in side curtains in a series of small panels so it can be folded and then attached to the overhead.

[High Cotton]

So what would you recommend for the new dodger and side curtains ?

I want to be able to roll-em-up and snap 'em like on my sisters HATTERAS aft deck.

[AnchorageGuy]

we use a medium weight standard plastic window material found at any canvas supply. We use about a 30 to 40 weight. A fairly new product called Kal Glass is being used but I have no experience with it nor the price. Here is a good start

Window Material

[Pelagic]

I am just finishing a new hard top for StarGazer and was considering to use a heavy duty woven “Shade Cloth” as side curtains for the cockpit.
My reasoning is that underway;
· It would provide shade when heeled over, yet still give visibility looking out.
· Decant most of the rain and sea spray from entering the cockpit.
· Allow the majority of the breezes to still come thru, thus reducing windage and stress on the material.

Has anyone tried that solution before?

[AnchorageGuy]

we are building a sun awning out of this material but don't know about side curtains. sailing offshore at night or in nasty weather we want NO wind blowing through the cockpit so the on watch stays dry and comfortable. In addition when it is poring rain we get enough drips, so the plastic keeps the cockpit dry and comfortable. In cold weather we can use a small fan to draw warmer air from the cabin to the cockpit to keep the enclosure comfortable enough that we don't need five layers of clothes.

[Pelagic]

That makes sense Chuck, but in my case I have a useable large pilothouse for miserable conditions.
Also here in the Philippines because of so many unlit fishing drums, we tend to avoid overnight passages. Daylight temperature outside is the beast, so that is why I thought the shade/privacy cloth might pass the breeze yet give shade