Zipper smilie panel leaking a lot from rain.
- Thread starter marks737
- Start date
Prosideus
Active Member
- Jun 5, 2012
- 635
- Boat Info
- 1995 220 BR Signature
Prior Boat:
400 Sedan Bridge 1996 Cats 3116
- Engines
- Mercruiser 5.7
I had a canvas lip on the outside of my original canvas setup. That did a great job of diverting the rain. However, it did still seep in at the bottom of the smilie.
Sublimetime
Active Member
Smiley should be slightly larger than the cut out for it so it overlaps a little. This way uses a lot more material but works much better.
Or have the smileys turned into frowns so they role down.
Or have the smileys turned into frowns so they role down.
KevinC
Well-Known Member
When I do a smile or frown we add binding to the outside to create a finished lip. It helps with keeping a nice finished look as well a providing an edge. However I am not sure if there is a way to completely waterproof it.
-Kevin
-Kevin
Gofirstclass
Well-Known Member
How about trying a waterproofing spray product before you start doing mods to the window.
hottoddie
Well-Known Member
- Jan 11, 2012
- 2,229
- Boat Info
- 1986 Sea Ray 390 EC
Garmin 4212 Chartplotter
Garmin 24 HD Radar
Garmin 546s Plotter
- Engines
- 454 Crusaders
Recently had a complete enclosure made including the front panel with a smiley that leaked thru the stiches at the bottom. I removed the entire panel and brought it to the fabricator and waited while she added another row of stiches the perimeter of the panel and it hasn't leaked since.
Sublimetime
Active Member
Waterproofing spray will not fill the gap between the eisenglass.
Sublimetime
Active Member
Bees wax works wonderfully to seal stitching, and it lubes the zippers.
- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,153
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
Conventional zippers are going to leak because there is a gap between the mating zipper parts. Somebody make a water-proof zipper, but it takes 2 hands and both feet to open and close them.
I think the only reasonable application for smiley cuts in the isinglass is on vertical panels on bridge boats or perhaps rear curtains on an aft enclosure on an express style boat.
Adding facings may help but the facings will be expensive and will block part of your vision.
I think the only reasonable application for smiley cuts in the isinglass is on vertical panels on bridge boats or perhaps rear curtains on an aft enclosure on an express style boat.
Adding facings may help but the facings will be expensive and will block part of your vision.
KevinC
Well-Known Member
The facings do add a bit more setup time and then there are two additional sewing passes. Because of this I would expect it to be more expensive.
For the facings we use 3/4 bias binding and it does not extend beyond the standard 1.5 inch wide coil tape so there should not be any additional loss of vision. There is a narrow coil that some people use - in that case it would be an additional 1/4 inch wider (1/8 inch on both sides).
-Kevin
Irie308
Well-Known Member
- May 28, 2013
- 2,598
- Boat Info
- 2004 420 DB, GHS Hydraulic Lift
Garmin 8600/Garmin 1222 plus
AB Mares 10 VSX with 30 hp Tohatsu
- Engines
- Cummins 450C 8.3 L Turbocharged
recently had our bridge enclosure redone in poly carbonate and i have to say our guy did a great job. The U shaped removable panels do not leak at all. The front and rear are at a slight angel but the over lap that he placed on the zipper doesn't let any water in. I can take a close up pic of the zipper and overlap when i'm at the boat again.
Last edited:
yobub
Well-Known Member
You must have used the same canvas guy as the previous owner of my boat. 5 isenglass windows with smiley zippers, all 5 leaked. 2 years old. These even had the canvas flap over the exterior.
Tried beeswax - still leaked
Zipper wax - still leaked
303 Waterproofing - still leaked
Tent sealer - still leaked
Restitch with gore text thread and more waterproofing - still leaked.
Spent all last summer trying to stop the leaks, finally just taped up some plastic inside the windows to channel the rain down and out, and gave up on them not leaking.
We ended up replacing the canvas with a custom work from high quality fabricator. No smileys in the front windows, only on the sides. The side smileys dont leak with the new canvas.
Velcro canvas cover over the zipper.
Isenglass is offset from the zipper, so that the gap in the isenglass is over the fabric, not over the zipper. All goretex thread.
Plenty of rain this spring, not one leak.
Tried beeswax - still leaked
Zipper wax - still leaked
303 Waterproofing - still leaked
Tent sealer - still leaked
Restitch with gore text thread and more waterproofing - still leaked.
Spent all last summer trying to stop the leaks, finally just taped up some plastic inside the windows to channel the rain down and out, and gave up on them not leaking.
We ended up replacing the canvas with a custom work from high quality fabricator. No smileys in the front windows, only on the sides. The side smileys dont leak with the new canvas.
Velcro canvas cover over the zipper.
Isenglass is offset from the zipper, so that the gap in the isenglass is over the fabric, not over the zipper. All goretex thread.
Plenty of rain this spring, not one leak.
Last edited:
Glass should be cut just outside the curve of the zipper opening and you need rain flaps on the outside. I make a flap the exact shape of the "smile" Have a canvas shop add a flap as seen in the pic.
KevinC
Well-Known Member
Love the simple fixes!
I actually do something similar I bring the zippers down to outside of each frown.
-Kevin
