Help maintaining bimini enclosure

[Rinkerfam]

Thank you DRH and RG. One question DRH.... have you been treating the same windows for ten years or have there been multiple boats over this time frame. If it has been the same vinyl all along, I'd say that's quite an endorsement for that treatment.
Thanks again.
RF

[DRH]

Originally Posted by Rinkerfam

One question DRH.... have you been treating the same windows for ten years or have there been multiple boats over this time frame.

Rinkerfam,

I treated the clear vinyl windows in our 1995 Sea Ray for 10 years with Pledge, and when we traded the boat earlier this year the windows were still soft and perfectly clear. I used it this year on the new boat's vinyl windows, too.

The Pledge should only be applied after the windows have been carefully washed and dried. I spray and lightly buff dry a couple coats of Pledge on both sides of the windows each spring, and then again in mid-summer. As I mentioned earlier, I can't remember where I first learned of this treatment for clear vinyl windows, but there is something in the liquid wax that protects the windows and seems to make them last.

By the way, RG's advice about not folding the windows or storing them with vinyl-to-vinyl is absolutely correct. When we bought our new Sea Ray this year, it came with a video recommending just what RG suggested ... separating the windows with cloth and rolling them rather than folding for storage.

[Rinkerfam]

DRH,
Thanks again! I just had the enclosure installed before winterizing our boat. Too many days this past summer that could have been more enjoyable if we had ordered it with the boat last winter I rolled (didn't fold) the pieces for their long winters nap, but didn't place any type of material to prevent the vinyl on vinly that RG warned against. I will definitely pull the enclosure out and apply the pledge (according to your method) and re-roll everything with a protective barier between rolls.
I'll update you in the spring as to how everything survived the winter
RF