StrataglassTM is one of the most widely marketed clear vinyls for curtains and weather enclosures in the marine industry. The chief characteristic that attracts boat owners to Strataglass is it's resistance to scratches and abrasions that would otherwise mar the standard press-polished clear vinyls.
Strataglass achieves this scratch resistance by applying a scratch-resistant urethane film on both sides of a clear sheet of vinyl, which can be purchased in 20, 30, 40, and 60 mil thicknesses. It is claimed that this process increases clarity, durability, UV protection, and better runoff of particulate matter.
I've used Strataglass since it was introduced in the early 90's and the original product then offered was a far superior product to the standard press-polished sheets of clear vinyl that are used in the majority of boat enclosures. From my experience and observation, the modern Strataglass product does not hold up as well as the original formulation and in the long run is inferior to press-polished sheets in clarity, which is the most important characteristic a weather curtain must possess. There is a noticeable deterioration of the clarity of Strataglass within about a year or two of installation and there is no remedy for this because the urethane coating prevents any remedies from being applied to the inner glass where the cause of the problem is. In one case, an enclosure I made from Strataglass actually turned dark brown within three years of fabrication, indicating a severe flaw in that particular batch of Strataglass.
As a result, I stopped using Strataglass several years ago and highly recommend my customers avoid buying any Strataglass clear vinyl for their boat, although Strataglass' Crystal Clear 20/20 (a press-polished sheet without the urethane film) is perfectly acceptable for most marine canvas use.
One thing to keep in mind is that southern climates such as that found in Florida and the Caribbean islands tend to degrade marine vinyls more quickly than in northern climates where there is significantly less UV exposure. Your personal experience with Strataglass may be different that what I've seen in the Florida coastline area.
There are several options to consider besides using Strataglass.
The first is to use the standard press-polished sheets of clear vinyl. Although not scratch-resistant, this vinyl maintains very good clarity when properly maintained and is easier on the wallet. RegaliteTM is my preferred brand for this vinyl, and there are other similar products on the market.
The second option is to use O'SeaTM brand clear vinyl. O'Sea vinyl offers an excellent scratch-resistant barrier that improves stain and chemical resistance. O'Sea is the best choice for people looking for the next step up in performance of their marine weather enclosures.
Another option is to use a rigid clear enclosure instead of using flexible clear vinyls. These kind of enclosures are usually made from polycarbonate, plexiglass or acrylic sheets and are significantly more expensive then the flexible clear vinyls. However, the clarity is unsurpassed in these windows. The three major drawbacks to using rigid clear windows is creating airflow, finding storage if necessary, and adherence of the soft trim to the glass, which has to be attached to the glass with special adhesives. In the last case, failure of the adhesive, which is usually a workmanship defect, is not immediately apparent upon installation.
Feel free to send any questions or comments to burt@usmarinecanvas.com.
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