Carver Owners Forum

3 more canvas panels with O’Sea replaced. These are only 3 years old. Moral: When someone says “I can save you a LOT of money on this…RUN do not walk! “

Quite honestly Tony my experience has been these panels don't last long anyway unless kept very clean ( Imar ) and the area needs to be kept as well ventilated as possible when you leave the boat. That is the part of the logic to just use the lighter or med. gauge plastic with the one shade tint, no sense using the thicker gauge unless you got a covered slip or have fabric covers to go over the sun sides. My opinion anyway.

The sun and heat will beat the heck out of them out in the open.

Wow 3 years isn't a long time at all. They really get beat up in the open but treating them periodically helps them last longer. The products are pricey but canvas work is more.

I seriously doubt that is a result of cheap Chinese plastic. Pretty sure some product that was used is the cause. I do know that sun tan lotion will ruin plastic in no time. As mentioned, get the right stuff and treat them a few ties a season and they should last 10-15 years if cared for properly.

This started to go south after the first season. Product is sticky. I polish every 2 weeks as well as wash first. I believe he uses a cheap PVC not a quality product.

There are some questionable people out there obviously. Probably did it in good faith thinking his Alibaba product @ 25 a yard was as good as the normal stuff. I am all for cheaper stuff however when it comes to this type of product and considering the exorbitant expense of custom making it, I would stick with the known proven brands.

Still contemplating if I go with Strataglass or O'sea in a 30mil for my DIY panels. My oh my is this good stuff pricey. https://www.sailrite.com/OSea-Polished-30-Gauge-Vinyl-54-x-110-Clear?quantity=1&custcol_qty_in_pack=6

Sunbrella on the other hand is relatively cheap. Picked up 2x 5 yard rolls x 60" wide for under $200 US. https://www.ebay.com/itm/185824827191

I should not complain because if one succeeds in doing this right, a $15,000 job becomes a $3,000 materials expense. not to mention replacing a window here and there with left over material is almost free.

If anyone has a cheaper place to purchase O'sea or Strataglass, I am all ears.

Sailrite for the .040 was spot on for pricing I have found. Worth the price for the good stuff.

Thanks Tony, was questioning the pricing at Sailrite simply because the Sunbrella material I pointed to was 1/2 the price on eBay for the exact same product # at Sailrite so I assumed they were higher $ than can be found if one digs a little. I think I made up my mind to go with O'sea in the 30 mil flavour. I tend to buy way more than I need in order to make other stuff in the future. Comes in real handy most of the time not to mention cheaper in larger quantities.

I hate to say but there are different grades of 0’Sea. For the labor involved I need to ensure I get the real McCoy. I agree on the Sunbrella. I have bought same you mentioned with great results. Next up is a flybridge winter cover. I feel violated spending $1700.00 each year for shrink wrap that is used 4 months then torn off.

tonyiiiafl wrote:Source of the post I hate to say but there are different grades of 0’Sea. For the labor involved I need to ensure I get the real McCoy. I agree on the Sunbrella. I have bought same you mentioned with great results. Next up is a flybridge winter cover. I feel violated spending $1700.00 each year for shrink wrap that is used 4 months then torn off.

Will most likely go with 3 sheets as I figure I may scrap some during the learning curve and this quantity will cover the entire upper helm easily with probably a sheet to spare.

Thats about what I spend to store indoors unheated. It's a little cheaper outdoors with shrink however the drawbacks are just to many for me for about the $500 difference. Love the fact that I can work on the boat in fall/spring when it's that rainy time of the year. My guy started polishing/waxing Friday morning and figures he should be done on Monday. New guy is doing probably the best job I have ever seen done to any of my boats, really pleased with his work and his perfectionism. It has been raining on and off since Friday night and this trend will continue for at least another 4 days so the work would not have been possible being stored outdoors. Heading back to the boat shortly (in the rain) to do some more work. Unfortunately it is a good 1 1/2hr drive. Good news is I can make it there and back on a full charge no problem to the tune of about $4 in electrons.