gluing to sunbrella

G

gettinthere

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Nov 26, 2008
1,970
Endeavour 42 Cruisin
Our overhead windows in the bimini are shot. Because of solar panels mounted to the bimini, removing the bimini is a pain in the arse.
I'm considering gluing thin Plexiglas to the sunbrella "frame" around the plastic window. The "frame" is several layers of sunbrella.

So what kind of adhesive would work to glue plexiglass to sunbrella???? That is the question.

Thanks
 
rardiH36

rardiH36

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Jun 21, 2007
2,117
Hunter Cherubini 36_80-82 Sausalito / San Francisco Bay
All the time I have been on SBO (eight years now!), I don't recall encountering this question/concept before.

It's creative/useful. I do get the drift of the potential of your idea.

But before I opine, I am going to wait until others with perhaps more experience respond.

My first thought is that you will need to install a more substantial and rigid frame over your existing "frame" of just several layers of Sunbrella. (Great stuff Sunbrella however!)

If in a day or so you don't get something useful to your query, then I'll make some stabs at a solution. Or at least suggest where to investigate further.

What are the dimensions of those "windows"?
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

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Feb 26, 2004
22,992
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
My dodger is getting "wonky", too. A friend suggested that I confirm whether or not duct tape would actually stick to the repair.
 
woodster

woodster

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Sep 15, 2009
6,243
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
gettinthere said:
Our overhead windows in the bimini are shot. Because of solar panels mounted to the bimini, removing the bimini is a pain in the arse.
I'm considering gluing thin Plexiglas to the sunbrella "frame" around the plastic window. The "frame" is several layers of sunbrella.

So what kind of adhesive would work to glue plexiglass to sunbrella???? That is the question.

Thanks
Click to expand
i hate to say this ....but its sorta like repairing a vinyl dinghy ...there is a glue to put plexi to plexi but i don't think you will find one for plexi to sunbrella...

you could go to a canvas shop and have them make some new windows and sew a border on them that you could hand stitch to the bimini


on second thought you might try dow 795 and see if that will do it
 
seadaddler

seadaddler

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Dec 19, 2006
5,818
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
Canvas Shop

Canvas Shop $$$$$$$
Maybe some kind of fasteners like screws and nuts with a sealer.
Try Sailrite.com for canvas idea's,great helpful info and how to do.
Nick
 
H

HernandoBeacher

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Dec 5, 2009
80
Hunter 36 Hernando Beach, FL
Ditto on the canvas shop. My dodger has flexible acrylic panels glued to the Sunbrella not sewn like isinglass panels. Not sure what the glueing process was so you may need to take the sunbrella to the shop.
 
G

gettinthere

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Nov 26, 2008
1,970
Endeavour 42 Cruisin
The whole idea is to not have to take the whole bimini apart. 2 large solar panels plus all the wiring and then the bimini. 8 hours work to tear it all down and another 8 to put it back together.
We do all of our own canvas work so we dont need a canvas shop.
Eventually I will make a hardtop but for now the sunbrella is in very good shape so that project is several years down the road.
 
G

gettinthere

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Nov 26, 2008
1,970
Endeavour 42 Cruisin
Seadadler gave me an idea...

Cut a piece of plexi to fit over the top the size of the "frame". Cut 1" strips of plexi to use as a clamp on the underside. I can burn holes into the sunbrella "frame" and use small machine screws, washers and nuts to bolt the plexi window to the strips. The clamping force should crush the sunbrella like a gasket but if that still leaks...butyl!
 
D

DAVA390

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Jul 13, 2010
1,097
Precision 23 Perry Hall,Baltimore County
I thought 5200 Was the baddest glue in creation, holds everything? Try a small test on something else if possible?
 
capta

capta

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Jun 4, 2009
4,907
Pearson 530 Admiralty Bay, Bequia SVG
We just went through exactly what you are. We cut the existing isinglass out leaving about an inch around the edges to glue to. We sanded the old piece and the new piece to insure a rough enough surface to glue to and then glued the new isinglass to the old. We did a half dozen test pieces w/various glues and found one was marginally better than the others, but after about 6 months we're patching small leaks.
I believe we used a quick set epoxy for plastic and china. We also added 5200 after the fact to bring the whole thing together with the cloth, but the 5200 is breaking down from the uv's already.
So, you can do this as a temp fix, but we haven't found a permanent solution yet.
You will NOT be able to use plexi unless you actually build a frame to mount it to, and that will be way too heavy, causing a low spot in the Bimini, which will gather water and soon leak. Let us know if you find a better solution. Good luck.
 
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