Dodger windows won't come clean

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C

cluce

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Sep 9, 2012
10
Catalina 30 Seattle
Hi - we bought some Plexus to clean the windows on our dodger. The windows look like they are covered in salt stains and I don't think they had been cleaned for a long time before we bought the boat. The Plexus didn't get them clean. When I run my finger over the "stains" I can feel the texture change. Any suggestions on how to clean them, or are they just shot and need replacing?

thx
cl
 
Don S/V ILLusion

Don S/V ILLusion

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Sep 25, 2008
7,435
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
Plexus is a very weak cleaner intended more to preserve the plasticizers in the 'glass' than actually clean them. Once they dry out as yours sounds, they are beyond a maintenance issue.
 
Levin

Levin

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Apr 7, 2007
163
Hunter 340 San Diego
Cluce,

I don't know if your windows are beyond saving but if they are able to be saved you will likely have to do a little work. As Don said you need to use something stronger than what you have been using if you want a chance at fixing them. There is a nice series of products from Novus that will help if they can be saved. They come in 3 stages and you want to start with stage 3 and move down to stage 1. Basically stage 3 & 2 are buffing compounds that you wipe on with a clean rag in a circular fashion until your dodger windows come clean. No guarantee that they will come clean because some are beyond saving, but if there is a chance these products are your best shot (IMHO).

Good luck,
-Levin
 
ITMaster

ITMaster

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Jun 19, 2004
512
Catalina 387 Hull # 24 Port Charlotte, Florida
RE: Windows won't come clean

If they are shot and don't seem to come clean, give LA Awesome a try, you can find it at the dollar store for a dollar
 
woodster

woodster

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Sep 15, 2009
6,243
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
if all else fails take a clean wool buffing pad on your buffer and apply FLITZ metal polish and buff it lightly and slow ...and don't stay in one spot too long as it will burn the material but if done with caution you can some times bring it back to a glossy clear window again oh and lay it out on a furniture pad on the work table to do the buffing...

regards

woody
 
C

cluce

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Sep 9, 2012
10
Catalina 30 Seattle
Thanks for all the great advice. Will look into each option and figure out a way forward.

cl
 
O

Omoishiroi

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Jul 2, 2013
16
Beneteau Oceanis 41 Blaine
do you know what type of glass you have? It could be 30mm or 40mm or Strataglass or something else. If it is 30mm or 40mm it is rather soft vs others. Plexus I would agree with others - it is a good maintenance application but not a recovery product. Maguires makes a two step soft plastic cleaner and a detailer.
If you have 30mm 'glass' it might be time to replace it with something better.
 
shemandr

shemandr

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Jan 1, 2006
7,588
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
It's not that expensive to have the glass replaced. We did it and found it was a great value. The sailmaker used a higher quality material than the factory did. Before wearing your shoulders out restoring crappy glass get a price for replacement. Then maintain the glass. Don't roll them up wet, keep them clean, don't crease them, rinse them frequently etc.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
23,047
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Maine Sail did a wrtieup just last week. IIRC, the material he uses is IMAR or IMOR. I just used Plexus on our dodger glass, great stuff if there's not too much abuse.
 
RichH

RichH

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Feb 14, 2005
4,773
Tayana 37 cutter; I20/M20 SCOWS Worton Creek, MD
woodster said:
if all else fails take a clean wool buffing pad on your buffer and apply FLITZ metal polish and buff it lightly and slow ...and don't stay in one spot too long as it will burn the material but if done with caution you can some times bring it back to a glossy clear window again oh and lay it out on a furniture pad on the work table to do the buffing...

regards

woody
Click to expand
+1 on Woodie's and MrBills advice .... but be prepared to sooner or later have the plastic panes totally replaced.
 
zeehag

zeehag

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Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
when i had a dodger made for another boat they told me not to use any chemicals on the isinglass---had to be vinegar. wipe with soft lint free cloth.
otherwise you get nasty hazy glass... this formosa eventually dodger/bimini wtf isnt gonna have isinglass, will be open-- isingass is unnecessary here and unnecessary with this boat. might add a snap on screen thing--havent figgered it out yet-- but not gonna have that hot making greenhouse glass
 
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