Cleaning quarter canopies?
#1
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Cleaning quarter canopies?
What is the best way to clean your canopies without causing damage such as yellowing? I don't have any yellowing on mine and would like to keep it that way obviously. Also, if they do start to yellow is there a cleaner that will remove the haze? I've just been using water as I've heard windex will hurt the finish.
Thanks!
Thanks!
#2
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Re: Cleaning quarter canopies?
plexus, we use it on the film..developed for airplanes
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...2456&ref=81902
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...2456&ref=81902
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Re: Cleaning quarter canopies?
Originally Posted by BLee
What is the best way to clean your canopies without causing damage such as yellowing? I don't have any yellowing on mine and would like to keep it that way obviously. Also, if they do start to yellow is there a cleaner that will remove the haze? I've just been using water as I've heard windex will hurt the finish.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Re: Cleaning quarter canopies?
When I was a kid would detail my Dad's plane almost every weekend. A old pilot told me about Pledge, tried it and worked awsome. Latter in the car biz a customer had a faded convertable top on his BMW and Pledge fixed it!
#7
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Polycarbonate by nature will yellow with UV (sun) exposure. Yours should have some type of UV inhibiting additive to protect it from yellowing, but it will still yellow in time. And once it does, there's little you can do about it.
Hazing and light scratches can be removed with ultra fine sandpaper (wet) and then buffed out with proper compounds.
The yellowing is permanent. The best solution is to keep the canopies out of the sun whenever possible. Obviously you cant leave them covered while you're using the boat (keep them covered when not in use), but you might want to look into spray on UV inhibitors which might help prolong their useful life.
Another thing that might help is to look into covering them with a urethane protection film... similar to the products that are use for paint protection on cars. Not only will these give great protection to the surface from abrasions, but they will also add some UV protection. If you go this route, look for the premium products that use a poly liner and have a top coating, no need to go any thicker than a 6 mil urethane. These products will give the best optical quality and the most UV protection. The compound curves of the canopies make it a little more challenging to apply to, but it can certainly be done. I've used these products on my polycarbonate windshield on my race car with excellent results. Some of the open wheel cars are now doing this as well and it's proven to be very helpful with drastically extending the life of the windshield/canopies. Note that these films will also yellow with enough time, but they are cheap and easy to replace.
As far as cleaning solutions go, I use clean water and microfiber towels. Polycarb is fairly resistant to most household cleaners, but I see no reason (or need) to use anything stronger than water and a couple of microfiber towels to do the job.
Good luck.
Hazing and light scratches can be removed with ultra fine sandpaper (wet) and then buffed out with proper compounds.
The yellowing is permanent. The best solution is to keep the canopies out of the sun whenever possible. Obviously you cant leave them covered while you're using the boat (keep them covered when not in use), but you might want to look into spray on UV inhibitors which might help prolong their useful life.
Another thing that might help is to look into covering them with a urethane protection film... similar to the products that are use for paint protection on cars. Not only will these give great protection to the surface from abrasions, but they will also add some UV protection. If you go this route, look for the premium products that use a poly liner and have a top coating, no need to go any thicker than a 6 mil urethane. These products will give the best optical quality and the most UV protection. The compound curves of the canopies make it a little more challenging to apply to, but it can certainly be done. I've used these products on my polycarbonate windshield on my race car with excellent results. Some of the open wheel cars are now doing this as well and it's proven to be very helpful with drastically extending the life of the windshield/canopies. Note that these films will also yellow with enough time, but they are cheap and easy to replace.
As far as cleaning solutions go, I use clean water and microfiber towels. Polycarb is fairly resistant to most household cleaners, but I see no reason (or need) to use anything stronger than water and a couple of microfiber towels to do the job.
Good luck.
Last edited by SS930; 10-18-2010 at 09:30 AM.
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Use my Polish Brandon.
We did an abundant amount of testing during the OSS races. Sheets the water, gives amazing clarity and won't haze or discolor over time. Works excellent on isen as well for the Searay.
We did an abundant amount of testing during the OSS races. Sheets the water, gives amazing clarity and won't haze or discolor over time. Works excellent on isen as well for the Searay.
#9
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I obviously don't have canopies, but Plexus works great on the RZR. It cleans, shines, and leaves a clear film so the mud and water just rolls right off
Jim Lee might have a little insight on the subject too
Jim Lee might have a little insight on the subject too
#10
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