Got a 2003-2005 270 Islander?

[family affair]

If you have one of these boats with hardtop and enclosure, I need a measurement from you.
Somehow I either misplaced or someone in my house threw out 2 of my 3 front panels. I have the center , but the 2 corner panels are gone. I need to have some new ones made.
Thank you!

 

[Fixit]

I have an 04 270. I dont understand what panels your missing. maybe our canvas is a different layout? I have two panels above the windshield, two side pannels above the side glass,..two rear panels that wrap around the rear corner then there's the three rear pannels

 

[family affair]

Thanks for the reply fixit. Looks like yours is different than mine.
I've decided to have the canvas shop make a new front windshield panel. Mine was 3 piece. Sounds like yours is a 2 piece. Are you happy with it? If so, please send/post a photo if you have one. The 3 piece was a PIA and I'm looking for a better idea.
Thanks

 

[Fixit]

all my canvas has shrunk, or the boat has swelled, lol.... not happy with it. (in its current state or its functionality) I would actually like a one piece plastic windshield that was wider ,curved around the corner a bit so im not staring at a 2" wide seam in the middle or at the corners

id like to go hard plastic rather then stuff that you can roll up for better optical quality

 

[Fixit]

I wish it wrapped around to the dotted red line

 

[family affair]

That's exactly what I'm considering. The front panels will be semi rigid, with flexible material around the corners.

 

[Hookup1]

I went with a 1-piece front Makrolon/polycarbonate. I also changed the side windows also Makrolon/polycarbonate. Sunbrella material for the frames.

Been this way for a few years now. I use the boat mostly during the winter in Florida. Front panel is always up. With the side panels up it can get stuffy on a hot day. I don't put the side panels up but I bring them with me just in case it gets nasty. Easy to put up - slide in track, a few snaps and one zipper.

I have thought about wrapping the front around like FIXIT said. I could probably do that but it's a lot of work to make the turn. Makrolon 0.040 bends but may have to be heat formed which is beyond my canvas skill set. I do think my side panels could be shorter. Maybe cut the forward/aft length in half.

 

[trapper]

Hookup, Nice job! How did you attach the poly to the canvas (sunbrella)

 

[family affair]

I went with a 1-piece front Makrolon/polycarbonate. I also changed the side windows also Makrolon/polycarbonate. Sunbrella material for the frames.

Been this way for a few years now. I use the boat mostly during the winter in Florida. Front panel is always up. With the side panels up it can get stuffy on a hot day. I don't put the side panels up but I bring them with me just in case it gets nasty. Easy to put up - slide in track, a few snaps and one zipper.

I have thought about wrapping the front around like FIXIT said. I could probably do that but it's a lot of work to make the turn. Makrolon 0.040 bends but may have to be heat formed which is beyond my canvas skill set. I do think my side panels could be shorter. Maybe cut the forward/aft length in half.

View attachment 35618

I would assume you stow your side panels on the front birth? Or did you find a creative place to stow them out of the way?

 

[Hookup1]

I would assume you stow your side panels on the front birth? Or did you find a creative place to stow them out of the way?

Front berth or head. I haven't made storage bags for them yet. When we are in the Key's the boat is a tackle locker. Too small to spend any time inside unless the kids are down. It works for us!

 

[trapper]

Hookup, your not talking to me. Interested how the poly is connected to the sunbrella? Some kind of adhesive?

 

[Hookup1]

Hookup, your not talking to me. Interested how the poly is connected to the sunbrella? Some kind of adhesive?

Sorry about the that. I didn't see your question.

I wasn't sure I could sew the Makrolon polycarbonate with my Sailrite machine. Sailrite doesn't mention it and doesn't sell it. 3M has a line of very high bond tapes. I used 3M 4941 VHB 3/4" tape on both sides. I also used a 3M primer.

The 4941 tape sticks fine to the polycarbonate but less so to the Sunbrella. May stick better to Stamoid. Other 3M tapes available that may stick better. The "frame" was stitched right to the edge of the polycarbonate and held together well. I used it that way one Winter.

Eventually got brave and tested sewing Sunbrella, 3M tape and Makrolon. It wasn't that difficult to do. I use a #18 needle for all my work with V92 polyester thread. I sewed the edge.

That enclosure panel has 5 years on it now. Scratched up a little and starting to "yellow". I have material and in the process of building a new front panel. I considered wrapping around the front corner. The side wrap would be about 2' on both sides. Not difficult to build that way but transporting it would be a pain - 110" wide! New front panel will be the same size as the 1st one - about 70" wide. Same construction - Sunbrella, 3M tape, Makrolon 0.040" taped and sewn in. I didn't really need the tape but it helps position the frame exactly where you want it before you sew to get dimensions right and zippers positioned.

New front panel and frame waiting for 3M tape to come in. Also made a bag for it out of UHaul blanket.

 

[trapper]

Thanks Hookup for that informative tutorial on connecting the two very different materials. It appears you could very well go into business.I am not in need....... yet, as I have not used it much in the last 14 years since owning the Grady, Mostly pick my winter days then we bundle up like the gumby twins. Not used at all over the Spring and summer months. Keep it rolled up in towels and still appears fairly new.

 

[Hookup1]

It's difficult to get the best guys to work on small jobs. They would rather build or equip a new boat. My friend with the 56' F&S custom boat constantly has this problem. Electronics upgrades, teak cockpit replacement, refrigeration, black mask refinishing, the list goes on. And you have to watch most of them every step of the way to see that it's done right. He winds up doing a lot of it himself.

Back in 2018 I decided it was time to replace my enclosure. Quotes were around $3,000 and they didn't impress me with their work. I watched some Sailrite videos and decided to do it myself. I looked at how Costa engineered enclosures for the F&S and Viking. Impressive work. Then I learned to sew. Did the enclosure, interior cushions, cockpit upholstery, cockpit shade and window curtains. I saved some money but I also got what I wanted when I wanted it. I don't take other work on except for something small for a friend.

 

[family affair]

When the weather warms up later in the week, I'll hang everything and provide photos.
The canvas man talked me out of the semi-rigid material in the front. I ended up using 40 on the front and 30 everywhere else. I'm extremely happy with the results. He exceeded my expectations. I went from a difficult to install 3 piece front panel to a very easy to install 2 piece.
I also had him make a helm cover out of sunbrella.
Now the best part. You east coast folks would drop your phones if you saw the final OTD price. Let's say way less than 2 boat bucks!

 

[Hookup1]

The thought behind the full panel front and possibly the side wraparound was to eliminate the frame blindspots. The top is zippered into an awning strip in the top track. Could have just sewn the awning strip to the enclose panel but the zipper does make it easier to put up. The bottom of the panel snaps down to the top of the original GW windshield. This is the only frame blindspot. The frame is 2" there and barley covers the aluminum windshield frame. There is a fold down pice that snaps down to weatherproof the outside strip. I have thought about eliminating the windshield like the flybridge boats but decided for now to leave it.

The 0.040" Makrolon polycarbonate that I use is $140 for a 52x110 panel. The 0.040" Stratoglass vinyl is about $230 for a 52x110 panel. There are more expensive and less expensive clear glass choice and different UV performance ratings that have a big affect on price. Frames are the same.

That being said you got a great price on those panels!

 

[family affair]

Finally got some photos, albeit not the best lighting. The view is much clearer than the flash might lead you to believe. I was also very happy it would go up without much of a fight in 45⁰ weather.


All of my clear was replaced, 2 new front panels made, repairs where needed, and a helm cover. The photo below does not show it fully snapped in place. It fits snuggly when all buttoned down. I'm happy!

One other question. My front and side curtains have a gasket at the bottom. The canvas guy had this sitting on top of the the windshield frame. Is that the correct location or should it be compressed between the windshield and the canvas?

 

[Hookup1]

I keep a canvas snap tool at the helm. The snaps get lubed each season.



I did not have any gasket material on my original enclosure. There is a fabric flap on the inside that folds down over the top of the windshield frame and snaps down.

 

[family affair]

I did not have any gasket material on my original enclosure. There is a fabric flap on the inside that folds down over the top of the windshield frame and snaps down.

It would seem most enclosures are now like yours. This is the 1st one Ive seen with the gasket. I suppose it might deflect some air, but I can't imagine it doing much more than that.