www.iFourWinns.com

I am seeking opinions on how and where you all store your bulky and delicate eisenglass, what type of bag and where did you buy it?

_________________

2008 Four Winns V358 (T 6.2L Merc Bravo III's with DTS and SeaCore)
2006 Sea Ray 340DA
2006 Sea Ray 320DA
2005 Maxum 3100 SE

On our 225, we bought a Military Canvas Bag to store it in. Fit perfectly, and we used old bedsheets in between the eisenglass to protect it as we rolled it up. I got it at a local army surplus store. How we'll do it on the 268 I don't know....

Below is a link to the one I first bought, but I ended up selling it and getting the next size down, which was a perfect fit. Cost about $20 at a local surplus store.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SIDE-ZIPPER-CANVAS- ... .m20.l1116

_________________
2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

has anyone ever tried a product like rain-x on these?

_________________
republicans, working hard so you dont have to.

I know this is blasphemy but I roll them up and put them under the cockpit lounge seat, it all fits loosely in there. When it wears out I will replace it.

I plan to buy some Maguires cleaner and give them a good cleaning during my vacation, they are already getting black streaks.

_________________
2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

Based on recommendations I read on this board, I too roll them up with a sheet inbetween. I used cardboard tubes. I store them under the aft cabin. There is a compartment under the cushion on the port side that they fit perfectly into.

_________________
2005 Vista 268 "ALTEAN"

I use the pool "noodles" as the media to role up the curtains with the added soft cloth. I role them individually and then put them in one large camping gear bag. It is then VERY easy to move around and I keep the front and from side curtains on top for easy access in the event of rough seas and wind.

_________________
2002 Vista 298 VP 5.0Gxi

Nooo ...... do not use Rain-X

Use a product made for the 'glass. We use a product called Plexus (we get it at West Marine). This is a spray that cleans and conditions the 'glass. It leaves it crystal clear and supple and sheds water as well.

_________________
Gordon Arnold
New Hampshire

2003 268 Vista ..................................................................Prior: 97 245 Sundowner

I store mine on the bed or the couch in the cabin - if not under the cockpit lounge seat. I don't use a sheet.

I'm not super impressed with the FW factory canvas after seeing what some local canvas shops are capable of. I figure if these last me 3 seasons, I'll be happy and it'll be easier to convince the wife that we need to replace them.

Compared to other factory canvas jobs though -- FW is definitely top notch. It's just that nothing beats a full, custom canvas.

My windshield connectors are very loose and not fitted well. I do possibly see my replacing those with custom, strataglass sometime in the near future - just because I rarely pull those off. the boat.

_________________

2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

On my previous boat, I learned that storing them on the bed meant storing spiders on the bed as well.

My canvas fits pretty well, I had to adjust the poles a little to get things right. I do get a lot more leaking than my previous boat. The seams on the horizontal bimini sections and zippers in the u-shaped window cut-outs are the worst.

I treated my bimini with 303 waterproofing last year and it helped. But this year the leaks are back. I can actually see through the needle holes. This year will try to re-treat just the seams. I still don't have an answer for the zippers.

_________________
2008 V358 Two-tone Blue V/P Dual Prop 320 HP
Lake Winnipesaukee, NH

My last boat, a Sea Ray had a custom bag made just for storing the canvas and side curtains. I should have, but never put anything between them to protect the "glass". After eight years it was all still very nice looking.
For this new 260h I am putting bed sheets between the glass as the sides are standard eisenglass but the front is StarGlass or something like that...thicker and clear exactly like glass. I'll probably get a surplus bag to store them in once I figure out the ideal way to fold and roll them. I agree with Cougar...nothing beats the fit and finish of custom. The canvas for my 260h is all custom and very nice. The Sea Ray canvas was nice too (made in 1995) but had some fitting problems.

_________________
Optimus Prime
Now: 2007 Horizon 260, (2007/08 brochure boat)
Previous: 1995 Sea Ray Signature Select 220
Tow: '07 Avalanche LTZ
Seattle and Chelan, WA

Thank you all for the suggestions.

_________________

2008 Four Winns V358 (T 6.2L Merc Bravo III's with DTS and SeaCore)
2006 Sea Ray 340DA
2006 Sea Ray 320DA
2005 Maxum 3100 SE