eisenglass storage

[MattL]

Hello all, i live in the Northeast and as you all know it gets pretty cold up here, i'm looking for suggestions to safely store my Eisenglass windows for the winter.
Thanks in advance,
Matt

[biggerseagar]

Matt.... the biggest no no is to fold them instead of rolling them up. A good cleaning to get any mold off and to clean the glass should be done. I have never use it but been told it works to clean and protect is a product called flitz. You can use a drill buffer to do this.All this should be done before you put them away for winter. I'm lucky enough to store mine in my basement and if the boat cabin or garage is the last choice just protect them with a couple of big garbage bags after you roll them up.

Roger

[MattL]

thanks Roger

[jimq26]

I give them a nice clean and polish with 303 aerospace protectant, then roll them around pool "noodles" using a clean old bed sheet to separate the surface and prevent any scratches.

My 1990 canvas and eisenglas looks like it is brand new. People can't believe that they are original to the boat.

Here's the link to the best product on the planet for this application -
303® Aerospace Protectant™ for long-lasting finish and shine

[MattL]

thanks Jim, it looks like there are several different flavors, do you recomend a specific one or just use the "multi surface" one?

[jimq26]

I have always used the 303 Aerospace Protectant over the past years. There is another product called 303 Clear Vinyl Protectant which I think is nearly the same. Both products are recommended for use on Eisenglass.

I have always used 303 fabric guard on all my canvas as well. Recommended by Sunbrella as the best protectant for their products. 25 year old canvas looks brand new. Protects the stitching from UV as well.

[jamanati]

Clean and protect them first.
Then bring them home, I used old sheets, layer them one on top of the other with an old sheet in the middle.
I keep mine under a bed. They come out looking new every year.

[MattL]

Thank you everyone, now it's finding the time to do it.

[Speakrdude]

We use a product called Plexus. Expensive, but works great!
(Love the Noodle idea!)

[jparsons121]

Originally Posted by jamanati

Clean and protect them first.
Then bring them home, I used old sheets, layer them one on top of the other with an old sheet in the middle.
I keep mine under a bed. They come out looking new every year.

+1.. I rolled mine for years with old sheets in between each, but now keep them flat under the bed. Much easier to hang in the spring with our the curl from being stored in a roll.

[shrew]

Another for cleaning, then either rolling or storing flat. Sheet -> Eisinglass -> Sheet whether you roll or store flat. While you're at it, buy a tube of 'snap-stick' and rub all the zippers and snaps too.

[jimq26]

Snap stick works great.

I'm too cheap to buy that so I go to a dollar store and get lip balm sticks with UV inhibitors for a fraction of the cost.

[dronthelake]

When we use to trailer a boat I would lay a clean white sheet out and roll them up on a large noodle. The sheet kept the plastic from touching.

[Feet1st]

If you use Flitz and their buff ball on a drill be very careful because that stuff flies everywhere. I put down a big sheet on our wood deck to do mine and when I finished there were flecks of that stuff everywhere. I couldn't even get it off the painted deck with a pressure washer. So my quick little eisenglass cleaning turned into expense for a gallon of paint and four hours of hard labor repainting the deck and railing!!!!

[biggerseagar]

Thanks for the heads up on the flitz.....it looks so easy when they do it on TV.

Roger

[shrew]

If you use flitz, you need to rub it in like paste wax and give a little while to haze over. If it's flying around, it's because you're buffing it wet or putting on too much. I don't use Flitz for eisinglass unless it's a deep scratch. I use it on stainless steel, and it works great at removing haze on headlights.