Crease in Isinglass

D

dread

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C Dory Year
2006
C Dory Model
25 Cruiser
Vessel Name
Tessa
I had the isinglass curtains on the floor to roll them around a foam core with fleece blankets, but they got moved and folded, put out in the sun and left out overnight. I found them this morning and some of the windows have pretty severe creases, but not cracks. I now have them out in the sun, lying flat, with the hope that the plastic will get a bit more flexible and I can press out the creases. Is this the right approach?
 
Yes, it's the best I know of. We roll our camperback sections with cloth between them, and store in a Sunbrella bag Joan made. Over the years, we have had other eisenglass items, one of which got creased (Miata back window, while in for service), and the crease was always visible after that... maybe because I was looking for it.

When we take the side sections down, we make it a point to clean them and let them dry before rolling. Finding enough space to do that isn't always easy.

Once it's warm, try pushing on both sides with a soft cloth to work out the crease.
 
What you say is exactly what I have been doing, and it seems to be working, bit by bit. The sun moved, so my warm, flat place is no longer available. I moved the worst window into the hall on a carpet, put a towel on top and piled books along the crease to flatten it more. I'll report back in a few hours.

In the meantime, is there a good cleaner for isinglass?
 
Maybe you could do your technique with the stack of books and a towel, but put a heating pad underneath. A little artificial sun?
 
Although I don't see it on the MSDS (maybe I'm missing it somehow), I believe Pledge contains silicone. I'm not sure whether this is a problem on clear plastic panels in boat canvas, but it may be.

(I generally don't like to use silicone on the boat if I can avoid it because of the issues it can cause with contamination/film/paint, etc., but that doesn't mean no-one else should use it.)

I think I would look into using 303 Protectant on the clear panels as a preventative. I don't believe it contains silicone (if anyone has information to the contrary, please let me know).

I have used the various plastic window cleaners/polishes (Meguiars, 3M, etc.) on damaged/old/scratched clear panels in dodgers and in convertible tops, and it did a good (amazing, really) job of bringing them back from "the dead."

Sunbeam :hot

PS: I have not had Strataglas in my own boats; I think that has different care instructions (and they specifically warn against Pledge, along with Rain-X and Plexus).
 
We have had success cleaning the eisenglass with vinegar water, then drying it with a miracle cloth. We use a 32oz spray bottle with mostly water and less than 1/4 cup of vinegar. Six years now with the camperback, and all the eisenglass is crystal clear.
 
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