Roll up sprayhood window tips

[chris-s]

I’m planning on replacing the sun damaged windows in our sprayhood over the winter and we would like to include a zip on the centre one so we can roll it up.

I’m familiar with the process of a straight replacement whilst keeping the originals in place to retain the shape, but not quite sure of the best way to do this and include a zip.

Chris

 

[B27]

Our sprayhood seems to have a lot of tension in the fabric, which makes the whole thing a lot more sound than the strength of the metalwork.
If the zips are going to take the tension out of the fabric, you need to understand what impact that has on the hood as a structure.

 

[Gsailor]

Would it be best to glue strips of fabric to the transparent plastic and then stitch the zip to those pieces of fabric?

Have never done it - just my tuppence worth of thinking out loud.

Edit - or a VERY good glue and stick zip fabric straight onto transparent plastic?

 

[PetiteFleur]

From memory, I sewed the zips in position and then cut the fabric afterwards, making a hem and sewing it.

 

[greeny]

My last boat had a roll up zipped window for better forward vision and air flow when dry. The roll up see thro panel had a fabric border that was then used to sew the zip to.

 

[Martin_J]

I have added zips the Sailrite way into the aft panels of full enclosures.. Quicker to do than describe but the Sailrite video shows how...

The basic idea is two rows of edging tape on one side of the window fabric, the zip on the other, then cut down the centre.

 

[ashtead]

If you are installing zips(we have 3 zipping windows) then just be sure to keep well lubricated -metal zips and saltwater don’t work well - we had covers made for our small plastic windows in the sprayhood so I’d replacing you might consider these as well to protect the plastic.

 

[Concerto]

A good tip to keep the clear plastic to stay clear is to use Pledge Furniture Spray Polish. This is what classic car owners with soft tops use.

 

[blush2]

Use plastic zips and sliders.

We made up a concoction to clean the plastic, water, detergent and meths in a spray bottle. The process was to spray, rub with a sponge and dry off with kitchen towel roll. It was surprising how much grime this removed.

 

[blush2]

Use plastic zips and sliders.

We made up a concoction to clean the plastic, water, detergent and meths in a spray bottle. The process was to spray, rub with a sponge and dry off with kitchen towel roll. It was surprising how much grime this removed.

Oh, also take care not to crease the plastic if you drop the spray hood. TVR owners used to put a rolled up towel in the middle of the plastic to prevent a crease.

 

[ashtead]

A crease in the plastic might have been least of TVR worries compared to a crease in body work but you do forget the hassle now with electric soft tops with glass rear screens which heat up.

 

[Tranona]

At the other end of the scale the hood on my Morgan is good practice for putting on an ill fitting spray hood. Good thing it has only been put on a handful of times in the 20 years I have owned it!

 

[rotrax]

At the other end of the scale the hood on my Morgan is good practice for putting on an ill fitting spray hood. Good thing it has only been put on a handful of times in the 20 years I have owned it!

The late Titch Allen, the founder of the VMCC and an old friend wrote a definitive history of Morgan three wheel cars.

He maintained the hood was one of Mr Morgan's little jokes......................