www.iFourWinns.com

Just was wondering how everyone else stores their Isinglass? I have mine rolled without any folds but I read somewhere that you should add a dryer sheet in between to keep the plastic pliable. I would hate to ruin them but they do seem stiff after sitting all winter.

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Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

All of my boats, I have just rolled the isinglass up and stowed away in boat. Never had any issues with it. Once a year (spring) I use meguires plastic cleaner and pollish to clean them up.
I never used the camper canvas too much on last boat, camping a couple times a season, and when it rains, so the isinglass still looked new when I sold the 8 year old boat. I do notice that isinglass on boat that are stored at the dock with the isinglass in the sun all day every day, does not last a season or two.

To get the isinglass to be more pliable, let it sit in the warm sun for a few min. it will be very soft in no time.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

I bought some really cheap fleece blanket things at Job lot for 3.00 each. They are something like 4'x4'. Put that down and roll them up. Works very well.

I fold mine... Egads! When they need replaced I will replace them.

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Brett DiMichele

Folding them will cause creases and those will crack. Have you priced a set of new canvas? They're hideously expensive.

Go to a Bed Bath and Beyond, Linens and Things or other store that has sales on bedding. NOW is the right time to do it. Buy a king size set of WHITE flannel sheets. Or a VERY light tan color. DO NOT buy anything colored or patterned as it WILL leech out onto the clear panels. I find a king set to be just enough to provide pieces to fit the panels for our 348. If I weren't lazy I'd actually get around to throwing a stitch around the edged to cut down on the bits of thread that peel loose...

Now drop by a fabric shop and pickup a couple of cardboard tubes. These, combined with the flannel, will let you roll the panels up pretty tight and not have to worry about creasing them. I even found a sail storage bag at a local consignment shop (Bacons) that just barely holds them all.

On my To-Do list this week... clean the panels.

Make note, if you get the panels wet and let them sit that way they'll CLOUD UP. The first time this happened I thought I'd ruined mine. It took THREE days in HOT summer sun to get mine to come clear again. Scared the bejeesus outta me, thinking I'd somehow ruined them...

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Spare the expense of flannel, not needed. Just roll them up in cotton towels. The color does not matter, as long as the towels have been washed once. I will echo... NEVER fold isinglass, unless you like replacing it every few months, or never have it up.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Well, do the math. Towels to cover all the panels I have on the 348 would've been quite a lot more than a $20 set of flannel sheets I bought during and end-of-winter close out sale. That and when they're rolled up the thin flannel takes up quite a lot less room than towels. But hey, anything would be better than just rolling or folding.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Thank you for the responses. I guess the dryer sheets are an old wives tale. Hopefully the boat will be in the water this weekend.

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Jnizi

2007 Vista 338 "Better Yet"
Previously:
2007 Vista 258 " Just Right"
2005 Horizon 230

I've only heard using dryer sheets as way to discourage spiders. I can't see any sense to trying to use them with canvas panels, for two reasons. One being they're too damn small to make it worthwhile. The second being the gunk they put in them would surely rub off onto the panels, and I can't imagine that being good. Now, if someone was talking about using them for cleaning, that would probably be an even WORSE idea. Those panels need a VERY soft cloth when cleaning them. I can't imagine the material being used in those sheets is anywhere near soft enough to avoid scratching.

If you don't know if already, DO NOT USE PAPER TOWELS AND WINDEX on your vinyl window panels! The paper towels are too abrasive and the ammonia in windex (or whatever solvent they're using these days) will degrade the flexibility of the panels. It basically breaks down the plasticizers in the vinyl. This will make the more susceptible to cracking, yellowing and collecting a greater amount of dirt than usual. I prefer to stick with Plexus. Yeah, it's expensive, but I shop around for deals on it.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Plexus and micro fiber detailing towels are a must. I just roll and store mine.

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Inboard, outboard, onboard never bored
KUT 'N LOOSE
'99 258 VISTA