' isinglass ' material ?

[Rufneck]

Great thread and one that I'll return to when I have my enclosure made. I am not there yet on my rebuild project and I've always planned that the enclosure is one of the last projects I'll do. I have a radar arch on my boat and my plan is to secure the aft end of the enclosure to the radar arch or at least have it terminate in the same area as the arch.

Bushwacker, Is the glass in your windshield original? It appears to have a light blue tint to it. I have been looking for something like that but the glass shops I've spoken to don't understand what it is I am describing to them. I'd be very interested in the name of it if you know what it is called. Do you know if it has any polarizing effect and is it supposed to enhance visibility over clear glass? Is it tempered? Thanks! and hope I haven't derailed abl's thread.

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by Rufneck

. . . Bushwacker, Is the glass in your windshield original? It appears to have a light blue tint to it. I have been looking for something like that but the glass shops I've spoken to don't understand what it is I am describing to them. I'd be very interested in the name of it if you know what it is called. Do you know if it has any polarizing effect and is it supposed to enhance visibility over clear glass? Is it tempered? Thanks! and hope I haven't derailed abl's thread.

Yes, my windshield is all original, complete with badly deteriorated gaskets/weatherstripping, although it's still watertight! Although the '72 Seafari brochure claims that it's "tempered tinted safety glass", the '69 Boating Magazine test just said it's safety glass, and it does NOT have any tint in it. What you see in the pictures is probably just reflections from the sky or bimini top. The cabin windows are green tinted plexiglass. I think Potter started using plexiglass in the side windshield panels on the later 20' Seafaris and Sceptre's, maybe starting about 1974-75 when he apparently started trying to take some cost out of the 20' hulls by changing from 4 to 2 stringers, etc.

The '73 Boating Magazine test of the 23 Sceptre said the windshield was "safety glass with hinged plexiglass center panel and side wings" so your windshield may have plexiglass in parts of it if its original. I agree that safety glass is a better choice, as I've seen some windshields with badly faded and crazed plexiglass. The plexiglass doesn't seem to tolerate UV very well, at least in S. Florida!

[bgreene]

From years of having plastic curtains.......a few simple " do's and don'ts "

Don't - roll up a section such as the center front to get fresh air without rinsing off the salt water first. The salt will dry, act as abrasive, and scratch permanently.

Do - wash with simple dish wash detergent and water, then WAX using a simple, cheap wax such as turtle. Result - no streaking and super sharp, clear window..... I've found this works much better than the supposed "special products" for these windows that leave a film.

Do - store either rolled up very gently to avoid any kinks, on boat, or completely flat.

Result - no fading after years and clear as glass !