Does anyone have any suggestions on how to clean/condition the plastic windows in Dodgers? Are there any products that are good for that? It seems to me that I saw something in Latts and Atts last year but don't remember what it was.
Clean/Condtion Dodger Windows
- Thread starter PrincessoftheLake
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Same stuff as used on auto convertible tops.....
auto stores have Maguires, or 3M vinyl cleaner, polish, 'restorer', etc. If the dodger windows is Strataglass then you have to only use what straglass recommends. All this works IF the vinyl hasnt become 'gummy' or 'roughened' or 'cloudy' due to abuse or neglect ...( or the usage of Rain-X, etc.).
auto stores have Maguires, or 3M vinyl cleaner, polish, 'restorer', etc. If the dodger windows is Strataglass then you have to only use what straglass recommends. All this works IF the vinyl hasnt become 'gummy' or 'roughened' or 'cloudy' due to abuse or neglect ...( or the usage of Rain-X, etc.).
dodger windows
I like Sea Power cleaner/wax. It polishes out fine scratches and fills in the bigger ones, cleans and leaves a protective film that doesn't yellow.
I like Sea Power cleaner/wax. It polishes out fine scratches and fills in the bigger ones, cleans and leaves a protective film that doesn't yellow.
Pledge for Plastic.
I used to fly Ultralight and we always used Pledge (furniture polish aerosol). It worked great .
I used to fly Ultralight and we always used Pledge (furniture polish aerosol). It worked great .
I used 303 Protectant last year on ours
but finally concluded they were just too far gone to salvage. I took the dodger to Harken in Pewaukee and had them replace the windows. It was very reasonable - under $180 if I remember right, and we have a pretty large dodger.
but finally concluded they were just too far gone to salvage. I took the dodger to Harken in Pewaukee and had them replace the windows. It was very reasonable - under $180 if I remember right, and we have a pretty large dodger.
Dodger Glass Care and Maintenance
Strataglass You need to know.. What type of windows they are first. Are they a thicker .40 mil type of window or standard, inexpensive type windows. The thicker, high quality, windows are a "coated" glass for optimal optical clarity. Use of products other than Imar or what is recommended WILL RUIN this thin surface coating! If they are Strataglass, or any of the other low distortion type glass,DO NOT use any of the products mentioned below as you WILL ruin them. I'm involved in a marine canvas business and I can't even begin to tell you how many windows Seth has replaced due to people using Pledge, 303 Aerospace Protectant, Armorall, Rain X, or "gulp" Brasso! Imar makes the best treatments, waxes, and polishes specifically for the "high quality" windows. While Plexus makes some fine products, as does Meguiar's, these products are still NOT recommended for Strataglass and should NOT be used on high quality dodger windows. Even on the cheap windows the Imar products work far better than any of the other available treatments such as 210. Please research what you have for glass and then decide what is the appropriate treatment. Strataglass has NO ownership in Imar just like Glen Raven Mills (Sunbrella) has NO stake in 303 Fabric Guard. One of the biggest mistakes we see is that 303 Fabric Guard is not to be confused but often is & with drastic results the 303 Aerospace Protectant! If you get either of these products on Strataglass it WILL ruin it! These manufacturers have chosen the finest products to give their products a reputation as being LONG Lasting. Taking short cuts on Canvas treatments or glass treatments can cost you big time! Trust me my partner has a backlog of about 40 glass replacements to do before spring... Here are some tips to help you care for dodger glass: 1) Don't touch the glass with your fingers especially with sunscreen! 2) Use only mild soap like Imar's boat soap when washing dodger glass. 3) Do not constantly put your dodger up and down. Nothing destroys a dodger or windows faster than this. If your dodger was designed corectly it should never need to be "folded". 4) Do not let the main sail fall onto the windows when flaking the main as it can scratch the glass. 5) Do not use "paper towels" to clean the windows they are VERY abrasive! 6) Use only microfiber rags (available at an auto parts store) for polishing the glass and treating it. 7) Do not allow anyone to rest their head against the inside of the glass while sitting under the dodger. Hair chemicals, combined with sweat can penetrate the glass and with the sun create serious imperfections in the optical quality. 8) Never use a wash & wax type product to clean your boat or dodger! 9) Learn to live with small scratches! I can't stress this enough. Trying to buff out small scratches will impact a much larger area than the small scratch. Once the optical coating is "buffed away", from polishing out a scratch, it's all down hill from that point forward! Deal with the scratches and learn to minimize them by NOT folding your dodger or cleaning it with abrasive products. Common sense goes a LONG way here... For more info read the Strataglass instructions: http://www.strataglass.com/Strataglass_Care_&_Maintenance/ Below is a link to pictures of my old Catalina 36 dodger (the green one was the one we replaced). The link shows many pictures of the windows when they were brand new and the picture titled "Rear & Side Grab bars" shows the dodger when the current owner had grab rails added to the dodger 5 seasons later. If you care for glass correctly it WILL last! Catalina 36 Dodger Glass Pictures: http://www.mobilecanvas.com/catalina36.html
Strataglass You need to know.. What type of windows they are first. Are they a thicker .40 mil type of window or standard, inexpensive type windows. The thicker, high quality, windows are a "coated" glass for optimal optical clarity. Use of products other than Imar or what is recommended WILL RUIN this thin surface coating! If they are Strataglass, or any of the other low distortion type glass,DO NOT use any of the products mentioned below as you WILL ruin them. I'm involved in a marine canvas business and I can't even begin to tell you how many windows Seth has replaced due to people using Pledge, 303 Aerospace Protectant, Armorall, Rain X, or "gulp" Brasso! Imar makes the best treatments, waxes, and polishes specifically for the "high quality" windows. While Plexus makes some fine products, as does Meguiar's, these products are still NOT recommended for Strataglass and should NOT be used on high quality dodger windows. Even on the cheap windows the Imar products work far better than any of the other available treatments such as 210. Please research what you have for glass and then decide what is the appropriate treatment. Strataglass has NO ownership in Imar just like Glen Raven Mills (Sunbrella) has NO stake in 303 Fabric Guard. One of the biggest mistakes we see is that 303 Fabric Guard is not to be confused but often is & with drastic results the 303 Aerospace Protectant! If you get either of these products on Strataglass it WILL ruin it! These manufacturers have chosen the finest products to give their products a reputation as being LONG Lasting. Taking short cuts on Canvas treatments or glass treatments can cost you big time! Trust me my partner has a backlog of about 40 glass replacements to do before spring... Here are some tips to help you care for dodger glass: 1) Don't touch the glass with your fingers especially with sunscreen! 2) Use only mild soap like Imar's boat soap when washing dodger glass. 3) Do not constantly put your dodger up and down. Nothing destroys a dodger or windows faster than this. If your dodger was designed corectly it should never need to be "folded". 4) Do not let the main sail fall onto the windows when flaking the main as it can scratch the glass. 5) Do not use "paper towels" to clean the windows they are VERY abrasive! 6) Use only microfiber rags (available at an auto parts store) for polishing the glass and treating it. 7) Do not allow anyone to rest their head against the inside of the glass while sitting under the dodger. Hair chemicals, combined with sweat can penetrate the glass and with the sun create serious imperfections in the optical quality. 8) Never use a wash & wax type product to clean your boat or dodger! 9) Learn to live with small scratches! I can't stress this enough. Trying to buff out small scratches will impact a much larger area than the small scratch. Once the optical coating is "buffed away", from polishing out a scratch, it's all down hill from that point forward! Deal with the scratches and learn to minimize them by NOT folding your dodger or cleaning it with abrasive products. Common sense goes a LONG way here... For more info read the Strataglass instructions: http://www.strataglass.com/Strataglass_Care_&_Maintenance/ Below is a link to pictures of my old Catalina 36 dodger (the green one was the one we replaced). The link shows many pictures of the windows when they were brand new and the picture titled "Rear & Side Grab bars" shows the dodger when the current owner had grab rails added to the dodger 5 seasons later. If you care for glass correctly it WILL last! Catalina 36 Dodger Glass Pictures: http://www.mobilecanvas.com/catalina36.html
Highly Recommend M310
It restores the moisture to vinyl & waxes the vinyl, also. Othe spray waxes only wax and really don't extend thee life of vinyl. Get it at Boater's World. A bit pricey, but worth it. I've been using it 2x-3x times a season, but have done so for 10 years on the same glass. Barring any line scuffs, etc. the glass is still like new. Hint: I always wash the glass first with a mix of boatsoap and water, then and a very soft, cotton cloth. Just rinse w/water.
It restores the moisture to vinyl & waxes the vinyl, also. Othe spray waxes only wax and really don't extend thee life of vinyl. Get it at Boater's World. A bit pricey, but worth it. I've been using it 2x-3x times a season, but have done so for 10 years on the same glass. Barring any line scuffs, etc. the glass is still like new. Hint: I always wash the glass first with a mix of boatsoap and water, then and a very soft, cotton cloth. Just rinse w/water.
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