[C320-list] Dodger Plastic Windows

[Robert E. Sloat]

Further on Jeff's comments.  My 2002 320 has an OEM dodger and after 7 
seasons the plastic windows are still in very good shape and almost brand 
new in appearance.  No pain no gain seems to apply to plastic window 
maintenance.  I have used Meguiar's Mirror Glaze 17 clear plastic cleaner 
for removal of minor scratches and Meguiar's 10 clear plastic polish as the 
final coat for protection and static reduction.  A few scratches on the 
lower inside of the windshield from the OEM Lewmar winches for the 
secondaries and the clutch brake releases needed heavy duty work out with a 
buffer and a little more aggressive compound before the Meguiar's stuff was 
used.  It is also good for the clear plastic hatches and ports.

I do use the Meguiar's 10 about 2-3 times a season and put the protective 
covers on the windows after every sail.  The later adds just another minute 
or two to the shut down procedure.  Also, when the dodger comes off at the 
end of the season, the windows have been washed to remove dust and grime 
which could cause scratching and I and store the dodger with towels between 
all plastic surfaces contacting each other laying on a flat surface with no 
folds in the plastic.  Next storage season I am thinking about seeing if 
clinging kitchen wrap on each surface of the windows would work instead of 
the towels.  If it clings, you just stick it on the windows and take down 
the dodger.

On commissioning, the dealer and I noticed that the secondary Lewmar winch 
handles when used were rubbing the lower part of the inside of the dodger 
window and a few days later a shorter (expensive) Harken ball bearing winch 
handle which does not touch the dodger window was presented to me by the 
dealer (SailPlace in Waukegan) gratis.

Bob Sloat
Savannah 894

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jeff Church" <jjemail at comcast.net>
To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 8:39 AM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] A couple wins


Dave,

Did you try Plexus Plastic Polish. It does a nice job of cleaning up the 
haze and light scratches on Eisenglass.

JeffC

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Dave Anderer
  To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
  Sent: Friday, April 25, 2008 8:04 AM
  Subject: [C320-list] A couple wins


  I got lucky over the past week and actually won a couple battles.
  Just for the record:

  - My AP didn't come out of winter storage all that well - it would
  only show a couple discrete compass headings on the display (46 or 234
  or..).  Suspecting the AP compass was hung up, I pulled up the sole
  and gave the compass a couple raps with the blunt end of a
  screwdriver.  I must have scared it - it started working again.

  - The plastic windows on my dodger were replaced by the PO about 3
  years ago, and looked great initially, but have fogged up over time -
  mostly on the inside.  The only place still real clear was a strip
  where my hand rubbed against the plastic when grinding the winches.
  Tried everything I could think of within reason to clean them -
  without success.

  Found a reference to a product called Novus Polish 
(http://www.novuspolish.com/
  ).  Tried their #2 polish followed up by the #1 and it worked like a
  champ.  The plastic in the dodger is clear again and looks like new.

  (I keep saying "plastic" - don't know what it is, but am fairly sure
  is isn't anything high-end like Stratoglass.)