Eisenglass vs vinyl?

[hellosailor]

I'm sory, but I just cringe to hear boaters talk about "isinglass" or "eisenglass" because these words really mean glazing that is made from sturgeon bladders or sheets of mica (used in wood stoves) and to me, they smack of "Well, we've got magical products" when they are used to refer to vinyl window material. Really.

But I've noticed the "Stratoglass" and other top-name vinyl window products run about $140 a yard (!) while plain vinyl used for tablecloths and covers can run $10-20 in thinner guages, $30 in heavier ones.

So really...is there mutliple layer pultruded pressed exotic SOMETHING that makes the replacement dodger windows really worth five or ten times more per yard? Or is this the "marine obscene" pricing game, cleverly using a misnomer to hide the real product?

[RabidRabbit]

This intrest me, but I'm never had to deal with it as I have no dodger. Strange that no one has had anything to say.

[Cheechako]

The thicker, and a little more rigid stuff is very nice... is that Stratoglas? I've heard it's very expensive. Seems ridiculous to me.

[hellosailor]

Yes, Stratoglass is one of the premium names.

I know with many materials (glazing, upholstery, woods, metals) there's a lot of stuff that "looks and feels" the same but simply doesn't hold up. Still, with THAT big a price difference...I have to ask.

I'm not a dodger fan. Yes, it is nice to stay cool and dry in the sun or rain. But to me a dodger in mainly "more stuff!" as George Carlin often said. I've got a hat, and sunglasses, and foulies, and sometimes even the sense to not go out sailing.<G>

[RN2012]

Yes, there is a lot of confusion about Isinglass, Eisenglass, Clear Vinyl and Strataglass.

As a canvas manufacturer, we explain this a lot.

As HelloSailor noted, the name Isinglass or Eisenglass is a slang for clear, flexible vinyl (actually a PVC).

Basically, there are several manufacturer of clear vinyl (rolled or flat) in thickness from 20-mil (0.020" thick - like a shower curtain) to 60-mil (0.060" thick, almost 1/16" thick, for yachts as its very difficult to roll).

Strataglass is a company who makes a specially coated clear vinyl that is VERY clear, scratch and UV resistant. It s priced at a premium, and finished canvas is usually about 40-75% more when made with Strataglass for 2 reason: cost of material & difficulty of sewing (its usually the thicker 40-mil)

Here are more details: http://RNR-Marine.com/Canvas.shtml#Clear-Vinyl

And here are some cleaning DO's and DON'Ts: http://RNR-Marine.com/Maintenance.shtml#Clear-Vinyl

We have the Factory OEM canvas for many boat lines, and will be adding more for 2013, so stay tuned, and let us know if we can help!

[jeremiason]

Our Catalina Dodger was built with a polycarbonate glass... Doesn't roll, but is semi flexable. The front window folds back flat and snaps under the dodger.

Sun does not effect these windows. I have never covered the windows in over six years... There is no yellowing or scratching...

They have also taken some hard hits from waves over the bow and couple of flogging sheets.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Captain Ross.

[Maine Sail]

When a shower curtain or table cloth look like this after 4 years in the marine environment let me know...

[avb3]

Originally Posted by jeremiason

Our Catalina Dodger was built with a polycarbonate glass... Doesn't roll, but is semi flexable. The front window folds back flat and snaps under the dodger.

Sun does not effect these windows. I have never covered the windows in over six years... There is no yellowing or scratching...

They have also taken some hard hits from waves over the bow and couple of flogging sheets.

I'm very surprised to hear that the sun does not affect polycarbonate. Back in the day when I was in the sign business, we used polycarbonate (lexan) for many signs. It has it use, but UV very much affected it over time. Do you have a special coating on it perhaps?

[Sailing fast]

Maine sail,
What is that clear material? Strataglass or something else. Looks great!

[ranger58sb]

EZ2CY or Makrolon, maybe?

The front 3 panels on our bridge enclosure are the latter, and they look like that...

-Chris

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

EZ2CY or Makrolon, maybe?

The front 3 panels on our bridge enclosure are the latter, and they look like that...

-Chris

Makrolon AR (abrasion resistant) double sided....

[Sailing fast]

Have you seen this? It is from 2010 but speaks to makrolon failures after 2 years.

Heads-Up - Markolon Problems [Archive] - Club Sea Ray

[ranger58sb]

Old thread, from 12/10. Ours was installed 6/10, looks like new.

-Chris

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by Sailing fast

Have you seen this? It is from 2010 but speaks to makrolon failures after 2 years.

Heads-Up - Markolon Problems [Archive] - Club Sea Ray

Ours are now about 6 years old and look exactly as they did the day they were installed. Course if your canvas guy cheaps out on you, and supplants regular non AR Makrolon for the good stuff, you will not see the best life you could.