Strata Glass

[tdw]

In the ongoing search for the new(ish) Womboat one of the applicants has a dodger that's only fit for the garbage skip.

In looking for designs that suit I came upon one that I really like the look of and it uses Strata Glass.

I've found website and information as to what SG is and it certainly looks the go but does anyone have any experience with it ?

Comments both pro and con would be appreciated.

Cheers

[Sabreman]

I have Strat Glass on my dodger. The person who built the dodger insisted on using it due to superior performance. After 3 years, it's still crystal clear and shows no degradation. We have covers so that helps protect the glass. Cleaning is with a mild soapy detergent. The manufacturer recommends using their polish which we do; it helps make water bead and contains lubricants & UV protectors. The manufacturer has specific do's and dont's, so see their web site for specifics like taking care not to let it get creased.

A great product that's worth the extra cost.

Clear Vinyl Curtain Alternative - Strataglass - Strataglass Care & Maintenance

[Lion35]

Ditto, I have Strata Glass and although still fairly new I think the clarity is worth the extra cost.

The one weird thing is they say if you get sunblock on the glass (from your hands, or leaning against it) it will cloud up, as Sabreman says check the care instructions.

[tdw]

Cheers. The sunblock thing is a bit of a worry in a hot climate though.

Like the idea of covers for the clears. Makes sense.

[Sabreman]

Covers are great. I'd never had them before this latest dodger. Looking at dodger designs on a number of boats, we noticed that covers have become common in our area (Chesapeake). We REALLY like them. The glass is always clean and the life is extended significantly. Of course the backside is still exposed, but it's not in direct light and "you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes...."

We also added handrails on the sides since we'd had problems with people using them for butt rests (my daughter fell through a dodger side when she was younger - funny, but required work to fix).

[minggat]

Isenglass and Strataglass are optically identical. So the statements of the clarity differences are a little confusing. When we have pieces mixed up in the shop, we find an obscure corner and scratch it with a fingenail to tell the difference. Strataglass resist the scratch. Strataglass best quality is it's ability to resist weather(graying-yellowing). There is another choice that will blow you away in clarity. Makralon is a semi rigid material with clarity you notice right away. I thought it was simply because it does not wrinkle. But I have Makralon in the front panels of my dodger and Strataglass in the removable side windows( chosen for the flexibility). When you have the two right next to each other, you notice the lack of graininess in the Makralon. Makralon is a Bayer product and is the material that drinking water bottles are made of. One warning. If you can get your hands on it in Australia, be sure that the canvas shop you use has experience sewing it.And oh yes, it's pricey. One other thing I have found. When I sailed my boat from San Pedro California to La Paz Mexico, I noticed that the salt spray seems to just flush away off of the Makralon, but the strataglass needed the flushing water and my wet bare hand to knock it loose. Don't ask me to explain.

[Faster]

I've never heard of this stuff before.. we have Lexan with covers, I have no problem with the clarity, it's great, but it certainly is not scratch resistant...

Is this strataglass similar to lexan, or is it more pliable as well?

[sailingdog]

strataglass is flexible and can be rolled up IIRC. You can read more about it here.

[minggat]

Faster,

Strataglass and Isenglass are similar products in the way they look, feel and sew into canvas. Makralon would seem more like Lexan. But Lexan can craze and yellow when Makralon would not. Google Bayer Makralon

[tomaz_423]

I think it is Makrolon^®