Replacing window PVC in sprayhood. Is thicker gauge PVC better?

[fredrussell]

New boat came with sprayhood thats in ok order apart from the cracked and worn out clear PVC window material. I've found a great tutorial from PBO online, and it looks a straightforward process.

There seems to be two gauges of PVC used most commonly, 0.5mm and 0.75mm.

Cost is not a deciding factor as its a small boat and I'll only need 1 metre off the roll, so less than a fiver difference between the heavy and medium duty stuff. Obviously I would assume the heavier stuff is the one to use, apparently its UV resistance is greater. My sewing machine is a old-school Jones domestic machine that has its own gravity field due its extreme mass - so I'm confident it'll deal with the heavier gauge stuff if required to.

Is there any other factor I need to be considering? Do you get better visibility through the thinner gauge PVC? Does one or other gauges crease more easily? Any other considerations?

 

[jamie N]

With no knowledge at all of this, but facing a similar dilemma, I'm going to reckon that the thinner item is the one that's more durable, by being less prone to cracking in the fairly cool conditions that we face up here in Scotland. During the summer, where for a while it was maxing out at 14C (in the brightest of the drizzle that it!), I'd plenty of time to ponder this.

 

[xeitosaphil]

This is an job I had to do at the beginning of the season due to mine being of some age, and it cracked due to folding in early morning temperatures. The guy that replaced both windows had both thicknesses, but suggested he used the thin stuff as I tend to fold my spray-hood quite often to increase visibility when entering harbours.
If your doing it yourself I believe the way to do it is to fix the new stuff over the old as the original will give the exact shape of the window , then cut the old one out afterwards.

Bets of luck with it

Philip

 

[macd]

If your doing it yourself I believe the way to do it is to fix the new stuff over the old as the original will give the exact shape of the window , then cut the old one out afterwards.

That's precisely the advice we were given by a canvas shop in Levkas, Philip, and very well it works, too. They even gave us some double-sided adhesive tape to fix on the new stuff.

 

[Mister E]

As has been said if you plan to fold and this creases the window material then the lighter gauge is recommended. If you would only ever fold the material when warm then use the heavy gauge.
Visibility is more about the quality of material as opposed to the gauge.

I used to have a Jones sewing machine and it was a fantastic thing (alternative anchor). God only knows what it was made from to get it that heavy. I have now replaced it with an Alpha that is even heavier.
A Ball Point or Denim Needle is probably the best type that is easily available for this sort of job.