Sparyhood Replacement Windows Fading After 3 Months

[RunAgroundHard]

I had my spray hood windows replaced after 15 years of use due to cracks in the flexible plastic at the folds. The new windows were supplied with cling film type material to protect them, which was removed on fitting. The viability was excellent. This week I have noticed that the plastic is becoming opaque. In the dry they are okay, but no where near the clarity when new. In the rain they look as if they have fogged up and it did difficult to see through. The windows have never been cleaned.

Obviously this is not normal. I am wondering if anyone has any experience of a similar situation or understands what the likely cause is?

Thanks.

 

[Boathook]

Have you contacted and discussed the problem with the person who supplied and fitted them ?

I'm no expert on sprayhood windows, but my boat has an open back wheelhouse than can be sealed off with 'curtains' with plastic windows. Can't remember how old the windows are but I can see out through them ok and they get covered with fabsil each winter.

 

[ylop]

Obviously this is not normal. I am wondering if anyone has any experience of a similar situation or understands what the likely cause is?.

I don’t know why they would be so bad with normal summer rain but:
- when I discussed our aging “windows” with the sailmaker to see what might be possible they said are the scratched or cloudy. They said cloudy was just water absorbed into plastic and storing in the warm/dry would clear it up. Mine were scratched. The polished two of them and replaced one with a split.
- I did return to the boat after it had been sitting with the hood down for a couple of weeks and a pool of water had collected on the clear plastic - that had gone so cloudy it was as basically frost glass opaque. The newest panel was worst. It looked irreversible, but much to my surprise the following week having been upright, dry, well ventilated and what passes for sun in Scottish spring it was 90% improved by the next time I was at the boat if was back like new.

So if it’s been sitting with liquid water in constant contact get it warm, dry and well ventilated. If it’s been upright then it’s surprising if it’s been wet enough to make it cloudy but perhaps warm and very wet would…

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I have contacted the sailmaker. The spray hood has been raised since installed and then the cling film type protective cover removed. The windows are duller (when dry) compared to 3 months ago when new. The windows feel softer than the originals and I wonder if the plastic is suitable for this type of application. Plasticisers within the plastic can cause dulling. The sailmaker has a reputation for quality.

 

[Martin_J]

Does that cling film type protection look like it was originally supplied on the window material, or was it added later to protect during transport to you?

I'm only wondering if there could have been a reaction between the two..

Just that I have replaced quite a few sprayhood windows over the years and I do recall about twenty years ago deciding to lay the old sprayhood on the floor, place the new window material over the top, then using masking tape, mark the inner edge of the window cutout.

Then I could unpick the old window and using double sided venture tape, stick the new window exactly into place (using the masking tape as a guideline) before sewing into place.

The masking tape was then removed without any visible trace.

A few weeks later, I noticed the surface of the window, exactly where the tape had been, had gone cloudy. It wasn't too bad, because it looked like a planned perfect inch of cloudy border around the whole window.. Very close inspection and the surface appeared to be just slightly mottled.

Just a thought.. Plastics do odd things, especially when warm (stich as in the weather we've had recently).

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Does that cling film type protection look like it was originally supplied on the window material, or was it added later to protect during transport to you?

I'm only wondering if there could have been a reaction between the two..

Just that I have replaced quite a few sprayhood windows over the years and I do recall about twenty years ago deciding to lay the old sprayhood on the floor, place the new window material over the top, then using masking tape, mark the inner edge of the window cutout.

Then I could unpick the old window and using double sided venture tape, stick the new window exactly into place (using the masking tape as a guideline) before sewing into place.

The masking tape was then removed without any visible trace.

A few weeks later, I noticed the surface of the window, exactly where the tape had been, had gone cloudy. It wasn't too bad, because it looked like a planned perfect inch of cloudy border around the whole window.. Very close inspection and the surface appeared to be just slightly mottled.

Just a thought.. Plastics do odd things, especially when warm (stich as in the weather we've had recently).

That's interesting, and I can't tell for sure, but I do remember thinking that the cling film was applied by the sailmaker because it looked like that, compared to machine applied at the manufacturers, which I assume would have been smooth.

 

[rogerthebodger]

When I had my spray hood it came with a protection on the windows, but I had external covers fitted over the windows to protect the window material from UV but you need to keep the window clean of grit otherwise the window will scratch.

You can have a soft material on the inside to protect the windows

 

[RunAgroundHard]

There is no grit or dust where I sail that would scratch the window material that fast. Two things that are different this year, long periods of very sunny weather and more heavy rain periods.

 

[PCUK]

The window material must have been of poor quality and if it was good stuff then it was faulty. Either way the sailmaker should replace them after such a short period.

 

[Frayed Knot]

A friend who does commercial canvas work had a bad batch of window material from her usual supplier a year or so ago - similar problem.
The supplier wouldn’t take any responsibility and she had to replace the windows in several projects at her own expense.
I do my own canvas work (very much DIY) but have never come across window material with a protective film.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

Feedback from Sailmaker

No issues that they could detect on a wet day and when the clear plastic was wiped it was clear and not faded.

I will wash with fresh water and monitor and next time it rains wipe off with a chamois cloth and see if that improves visibility.

When I checked in the recent sunny weather, there was no yellowing or opaqueness and the visibility was crystal clear again, as when first installed. I am wondering if the rain water was just adhering to the new plastic, rather than running straight off.

Maybe one of the cleaners that coalesce water droplets as used on motorcycle helmets visors may be beneficial.

All the best, fair winds.