39: UV blocking film or treatment for catamaran salon windows

[BenCo]

After a bit of research for my L39, it seems traditional tinting films for car windows (even high grade ones) aren’t recommended for use on plastic, le an or other polycarbonate types windows and hatches on boats.

I was wondering if any of you found a good alternative on their boat that could offer the same benefits by blocking UV rays inside the salon and possibly decreasing heat inside at the same time while being aesthetically pleasing.
Also liked the idea of privacy that a tint could offer.

Please share your experience, costs and photos with this.
Thanks

[goboatingnow]

Why is car window tinting film not suitable ?

[BenCo]

Car window tinting film will deteriorate fast because the boat windows made of plastics emit gases and will bubble. At least that is what I was told. It may work at first but won’t last.

[tkeithlu]

Hmmm. aside from an unproven case - the film'window will emit nasty stuff - we've got polycarbonate versus acrylic, which I have a lot of trouble keeping straight. So, for the record, your ports are almost undoubtedly arcylic, AKA plexiglass, not polycarbonate AKA Lexan. Acrylic is harder, splinters, and eventually crazes. You car headlight lenses are acrylic, and they do craze at about 95,000 miles. Lexan is soft enough to scratch easily, bends before it breaks, and is great for preventing Mr. Big getting nailed by the occasional sniper. Boats generally use acrylic, but I do indeed have some bulletproof ports.

I want to see proof of the "it'll bubble" legend. I say give it a try. Ordinary auto window tinting, apply by the soapy water method to the insides, and post the results in a year or two.

[smj]

This is what we use on our hatches, works great and no problems.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRVPPBT...ing=UTF8&psc=1

[thinwater]

In fact, I've been testing some on spare hatches on my roof for a year. Some fail and some do well. It depends on whether the film was developed for plastic glazing. The most spectacular failures were mirror films, which have the lowest gas low permeability ad are most susceptible to bubbling.

[BenCo]

Originally Posted by thinwater

In fact, I've been testing some on spare hatches on my roof for a year. Some fail and some do well. It depends on whether the film was developed for plastic glazing. The most spectacular failures were mirror films, which have the lowest gas low permeability ad are most susceptible to bubbling.

Thank you for the valuable feedback and actual testing.
This is exactly why I started the thread and didn’t want to be a Guinea pig as suggested before and end up with damaged very expensive windows to replace.

So far I’d favour perforated films as used by smj above or wait for a film professional who can guarantee safe use in my particular case.

[allatsea99]

Apparently there is a film especially made for polycarbonate called Polyzone Silver 20 by Hanita.

[BenCo]

I appreciate your doubts and understand it would help others if I was to test on my boat but costs of potential failures are way to high for me to take a chance. Thank you for your contribution anyway?

[BenCo]

I have messaged several manufacturers including 3M, Avery, Hanita and a few others with my question and will share responses here as they come. Thanks again for those of you who took the time to respond and share real life application experiences.

[BenCo]

Originally Posted by smj

This is what we use on our hatches, works great and no problems.
Attachment 247414

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRVPPBT...ing=UTF8&psc=1

For this type of perforated film you apply from the outside, right?

[smj]

Originally Posted by BenCo

For this type of perforated film you apply from the outside, right?

Yes the outside. Same type film you see on busses where you can see out but not in.

[Simi 60]

This post

https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...d-32421-2.html

[ranger58sb]

FWIW, in another forum I've read ceramic tints do best at actual heat reduction. No clue whether those materials do or do not apply to you question, though.

-Chris

[svchinamoon]

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