Spray and lack of visibility

[Jd1]

The other day I found myself out in a bit of a blow, it was gusting to 30 knts. Probably not a big deal for most of you but I ran into a bit of a problem ..... visibility was non existent. The spray covered the dodger and the dodger glass and I was pretty much reduced to sticking my head out from behind the dodger and/or working with the chart plotter to steer while hoping that the crab trap gods would be with me.

As it turns out, one of my glass panels is cracked for some reason and needs to be replaced so it seems like an opportune time to see if something can be done.
Is there material that sheets rain off or is there some sort of a trick to maintain visibility through the glass? I'd stick a rotating window in there if it didn't look like I'd lost my sanity

[chris_gee]

The old trick is to wipe a cut potato over the glass so the water makes a continuous film.
The other point is to check the shape of the bow. In lighter conditions you can see what is happening. It maybe that water curves up over the first 1-2 m generally coming back to one point, then the wind catches it and you get heavy spray driven back at you.
Having had this, in two boats I fitted a teak strake there angled so it reflected the water down and out which almost entirely eliminated the issue, and looks ok.

[cal40john]

Rain-X?

Rain-X® Original Glass Treatment - Rain-X

[cfarrar]

Jd1,

You mean you can't steer around the waves to keep your boat and crew dry?

Seriously, if you don't want to get wet try driving from the leeward side of the cockpit, looking around the dodger. It might keep you out of the spray.

[GrowleyMonster]

Me, when possible, I simply anchor or heave to, and hunker down out of the mess until it clears up. I don't punish myself unneccessarily.

[Ocean Girl]

Cal40john,
have you tried rainx? Sounds like a great idea. Anyone have issues with it? What about a good hard wax?

25,000 mies and I always had to poke my head out of the comfort of the dodger, no matter how clear the glass, the dodger just hides too much.

Ya know this would be a good question for the canvas dude over in the vender section..
Erika

[Jim Cate]

We've used Rain-X for years... works well. Not only helps visibility through the dodger clears but reduces the salt buildup that accumulates even under fairly benign conditions. An application lasts for a few weeks in our experience, so we usually slap some on before a passage.

Cheers,

Jim

[Khagan1227]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

Cal40john,
have you tried rainx? Sounds like a great idea. Anyone have issues with it? What about a good hard wax?

25,000 mies and I always had to poke my head out of the comfort of the dodger, no matter how clear the glass, the dodger just hides too much.

Ya know this would be a good question for the canvas dude over in the vender section..
Erika

I've used rain-x for years as well. It works pretty good, but I have noticed that rubber products (like glass seals) and some plastics seem to become brittle in a shorter period of time.

[Jd1]

RainX specifically says to not apply the product to plastic surfaces but seeing that I need to replace the glass panels anyway, it is worth a try to see what happens.
Thanks guys !

I'll try the potatoe trick as well ... one never knows

Anybody heard of material that is factory treated to permanently sheet water away ?

[rtbates]

I use 303 for plastics on a regular basis. And Zano Z5 auto touch up spray for adding a slick surface. Nothing will stick to it. I learned to use it on my cars electric windows and they go up much faster w/o the friction caused by the rubber seal on the glass. It works on any smooth surface to reduce friction. Cleans glass much better than Windex, with no tendency to smear.

[MarkJ]

Can't your dodger fold forward?

[Cheechako]

The only real way is a hard window and a windshield washer. Common on most powerboats. Rain X might work for a limited time , but makes visibility worse if you wipe it after.

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by Jd1

---
seeing that I need to replace the glass panels anyway---

You keep saying "glass", is that what you really mean, as opposed to some sort of vinyl/plastic etc?

[Cavalier]

Originally Posted by Ocean Girl

25,000 mies and I always had to poke my head out of the comfort of the dodger, no matter how clear the glass, the dodger just hides too much.

+1 on that!

[Jd1]

Originally Posted by FSMike

You keep saying "glass", is that what you really mean, as opposed to some sort of vinyl/plastic etc?

Everybody seems to refer to the clear plastic in the dodger as 'glass' even though it isn't .... if I had real glass I'd find a way to mount a windshield wiper

MarkJ: Yes, my dodger (or at least the central panel) folds out of the way but there isn't much point in a dodger if you remove it and are subjected to the rain and wind.