EZ2CY vs. Stratoglas vs. Isenglas

[eze2bme]

Has anyone made the switch from Isenglas to the new EZ2CY product for aft deck enclosures? What is the difference between EZ2CY and plexiglas? EZ2CY is about 3 times the price of Isenglas ... but is advertised to last 3-4 times longer too.

Down side to the EZ2CY product is that it does not bend and is really intended to stay in place and not be removed often ...

Thanks for any input.

Tom
1979 43DCMY

 

[egaito]

Has anyone made the switch from Isenglas to the new EZ2CY product for aft deck enclosures? What is the difference between EZ2CY and plexiglas? EZ2CY is about 3 times the price of Isenglas ... but is advertised to last 3-4 times longer too.

Down side to the EZ2CY product is that it does not bend and is really intended to stay in place and not be removed often ...

Thanks for any input.

Tom
1979 43DCMY

My flybridge enclosure was EZ2CY when I purchased Misty. There are upsides and downsides...

First, one panel cracked when she was shipped. It was EXPENSIVE to fix, and I would have had to send the panel off as not a lot of folks know how to work with it. Like you said in your post, once it's on, leave it on! As it was, when we ran the boat up to about 26kts, the crack turned into a major failure that sent a large chunk of the stuff across my neck. A few more inches to the right, it would have caused a very messy situation. It's pretty brittle stuff once compromised.

It's HOT. There's no way to put a "smile window" in it. I think this could be overcome with some creative panel design, but it makes for a space that cannot be ventilated, and the greenhouse effect will kill you in the summer.

It's not as new as you would think....Misty is actually on their website (or was when I last looked). She was done in '94 I think.

This may have changed with time, but I have only two panels left as the sides eventually started pulling out of the panels as the glue failed over time.

The pros.....it is easier to clean, and does not turn yellow, or grow crud on it as Isenglass will. What I have left is still clear to look through.

If I had the boat bucks to spend, I would have my enclosure rebuilt as a hibrid. EZ2CY panels where my vision is, with zippered Isenglass panels above and below for ventilation. I think it would offer the best of both worlds.

 

[egaito]

<snip>

It's not as new as you would think....Misty is actually on their website (or was when I last looked). She was done in '94 I think.

Had to look...she's still displayed on their site!

http://www.ez2cy.com/gallery/hatteras41.html

 

[jim rosenthal]

I asked this question of a friend whose company has been doing boat canvas for decades. More or less, the answer:

Regular isinglass is cheaper, rolls up, and is easier for them to work with. Also yellows, clouds and scratches.

Strataglass is more expensive, but is more resistant to yellowing, clouding, and scratching.

EZ2CY is not flexible, can crack or break, and I think has to be glued in place. It is probably the most resistant to clouding and yellowing. It is the highest cost and the highest maintenance. I didn't know about the issue with fragments of it being sharp- if that is true, it's a real hazard because if the stuff cuts you and you bleed, you're unlikely to have a surgeon on board to get things controlled.

Then there are the plastic materials like Plexiglass, Lexan, etc. Heavy, damaged easily, and not used on boats much. Probably for good reasons.

Bottom line: most of what he installs is Strataglass. Which, if given reasonable care, is worth the money and lasts fairly well. It is probably the best bang per buck.

 

[Capt K]

My 50' my has a custom bridge with custom hardtop done by Tom Slane a number of years ago. When I replaced the enclosure a few years ago, I went with 40 mil eisenglass. I have a lot of ventilation requirements so EZ2CY was impractical and TOO expensive. None of my openings roll up. They all snap up to the hardtop. The 40 mil stuff is nice; not great, but nice and easy to maintain.

This past fall/winter/spring, we took apart the hard enclosure installed many years ago. We redesigned the rail system and the hardtop supports. For the new enclosure we used Stratglass. Great stuff! It's very clear and can be rolled or snapped up. Strataglass is VERY fussy about cleaning products to keep their warranty in tact. The funny part is that their products do not cost any more than others, are stocked by Boater's World, and actually do a great job with little effort. I should have done this years ago! The versatility of access, airflow, and privacy are much better than the old hard enlcosure, and the maintenance is CAKE!

Bottom line, all of the materials are good if properly maintained andif each is utilized for the applications it was designed for.

K

 

[Chesapeake Dan]

I think I can give some insight on this guys.

I used to work for EZ2CY for 6 years in the Maryland shop from 1998-2004, when I started working there we were using the OLD glass, which breaks.
We were sent a sample of the NEW acrylic, and we did a test. Took a hammer to it, all it did was give it a little smudge on the glass, then hit it with everything we had in the shop, still no break. Then we took the piece and bent it in half on the floor, and stood on it, I am 200lbs soak and wet, and it started to turn white from the friction, and still did not break.

We called our supplier and ordered 20 sheets of it, and that is all we ever used afterwords. Even called a canvas shop who does all the Ocean Yachts, Post's, Viking's in New Gretna N.J. as a option from the factory, and he was happy to get this call, cause Bill Healey from Viking Yachts was about drop EZ2CY ( stop using it ) because of all the breaks. Well Chris Costa ( from the canvas shop) said please send him a sample ASAP and he took it to Mr Healey and a hammer and gave the hammer to him and " Try to braek this " NADA!!!.

So now this is the glass that all the shops use now, and I belive there is a warrent on the breakage of the glass now, check the website.

But I will still go to bat for EZ2CY and say that it is still the best enclousure that you can put on a boat BAR NONE .

As far as motoryachts go ( aft section ) Hatteras's were the most compatible and easier enclouser to design, with lots of different opening options compared to alot of other aft cabin motoryacts.

Bets advice I can give is call your closest shop, and they will come out and give you a quote on an enclousure.

Good Luck. Let me know how you make out, and if you have anymore questions, feel free to email me, dangerousdan8675309@yahoo.com.

Thanks Dan

 

[Docrockit]

We had EZ2CY2 panels on our bridge when we purchased our boat. We have since replaced all 7 panels (3/4 enclosure) with 40 gauge Stratoglas. What an improvement! We put smiles in all 7 panels because we like them up most of the time. Easy to put down if it rains or weather is inclimate. Our EZ2CY2 broke also when it was snapped in the up position. The biggest problem we had was in the cold of winter, it got VERY brittle and would break easily. It is for this reason that companies like Fountain Powerboats have stopped using it. The optical quality is very good with Stratoglas and has very little distortion. I would highly recommend the Stratoglas unless you want a more permenant fixture with excellent optics and cold weather is not going to be a factor.

 

[egaito]

I think I can give some insight on this guys.

I used to work for EZ2CY for 6 years in the Maryland shop from 1998-2004, when I started working there we were using the OLD glass, which breaks.
We were sent a sample of the NEW acrylic, and we did a test. Took a hammer to it, all it did was give it a little smudge on the glass, then hit it with everything we had in the shop, still no break. Then we took the piece and bent it in half on the floor, and stood on it, I am 200lbs soak and wet, and it started to turn white from the friction, and still did not break.

We called our supplier and ordered 20 sheets of it, and that is all we ever used afterwords. Even called a canvas shop who does all the Ocean Yachts, Post's, Viking's in New Gretna N.J. as a option from the factory, and he was happy to get this call, cause Bill Healey from Viking Yachts was about drop EZ2CY ( stop using it ) because of all the breaks. Well Chris Costa ( from the canvas shop) said please send him a sample ASAP and he took it to Mr Healey and a hammer and gave the hammer to him and " Try to braek this " NADA!!!.

So now this is the glass that all the shops use now, and I belive there is a warrent on the breakage of the glass now, check the website.

But I will still go to bat for EZ2CY and say that it is still the best enclousure that you can put on a boat BAR NONE .

As far as motoryachts go ( aft section ) Hatteras's were the most compatible and easier enclouser to design, with lots of different opening options compared to alot of other aft cabin motoryacts.

Bets advice I can give is call your closest shop, and they will come out and give you a quote on an enclousure.

Good Luck. Let me know how you make out, and if you have anymore questions, feel free to email me, dangerousdan8675309@yahoo.com.

Thanks Dan

Good to know, but I still remember that piece darn near taking out my jugular! The new stuff might be worth the boat bucks, but I still have the memories.....the bucks would have to be VERY disposable for me to try it again.

I wonder how many folks they lost permanently due to the reputation it gained for breakage....

 

[jim rosenthal]

I agree with Ed. It's frightening to have something like that on your boat- stuff you wouldn't have on a car, knowing it could cut you.

While I am glad that they have improved their product, per Dan's post above, the enclosures that I have seen made with Strataglass do hold up well, if taken care of. They ARE fussy about what you use, but I had some samples of their care products that I used on some other vinyl or plastic applications (like my motorcycle helmet visor, for one) and they worked very well indeed.

 

[eze2bme]

Thanks for all the input guys! Looks like I'll probably go with the Strataglass.

 

[Jackman]

Just had my hardtop enclosure done in stratoglass. I couldn't be happier. Its so clear it gives the feeling that the bridge is bigger than it actually is...I met the EZ2CY inventor at the AC boat show this past year. Even after talking with him I was certain I was going with stratoglass. I like the versatility of stratoglass panels..You can have the enclosure made anyway you want to fit the profile of your boat. Stratoglass more easily bends to fit the profile of your boat, not to mention the fact that more people can work on stratoglass than EZ2CY. It takes a special machine to sew EZ2CY, a mchine that most canvas shops don't have.

 

[George]

Check my site under galeries. "George" I did my 45 in the spring with a whole new install of hard top and enclosure. I thought I was saving myself some $ by getting the 2 side panels in stratoglass. well. I am tickled to death with the ez2cy on the front 3. The two sides on the other hand which are stratoglass suck!!! everything was great until I used the stratoglass cleaner. That ruined them. Only 5 months old and they have a white film from the "STRATOGLASS CLEANER POLISH" I to was thinking rolling up the side panels as I went from a phone booth install to full enclosure. Never happened. The front panels fold up straight. I do that all the time. I can not endorse STRATOGLASS one bit. Spend the extra few $ and go with EZCY

 

[newinlet]

I have A complete bridge enclosure with EZ2CY on my 37C It is a about 5 years old and holding up very well - The material that is attached to the glass is also very high quality & holding up well. If you are going to keep the boat long term EZ2CY is the way to go.. I get lots of compliments on my boat on the hardtop & enclosure......

 

[Paul45c]

I've had Strataglas for about a year and it seems like a nice product. Down here, going with anything that didn't have zipouts was a non-starter because of heat.

 

[Capten]

If you search past threads you will find that I am a big fan of the EZ2CY. Just finished our 12th season with a 3-sided bridge enclosure and it looks great. Take a look at the 'helm' picture from last year in the gallery under Capten. Super clear.

The danger from breakage has never been an issue for us. We have the old stuff which is not nearly as shatter proof as the new. I never had a panel break in a manner that was dangerous but I have replaced a couple of panels due to cracking at the canvas seams. But that was like 10 years into it and the new stuff has never been a problem.

Maintenance is simple. Wash it off and maybe wax or polish ever once and a while. If you scratch it - break out the buffer and make the scratch go away. Clear as glass and optiaclly near perfect. The panels seem to last forever but I have been through about 3 sets of zippers. Still, the cost over 12 years of service (so far) and a few sets of zippers works out to be less than the other products. Plus it stays clear and no hassel of redoing the entire enclosure every 3-4 years.

As far as configuring, there are many ways to install and manipulate the suff. Our ventura windscreen was one of the first to be 'heated and bent' to fit. Worked great. We have a combination of entire panels that snap up for ventalation as well as panels that are 'hinged' in half and then snapped up. In certain set ups you can put the panels on upper and lower slider tracks and open them like glass panels in a florida room or porch. Would seem to be ideal for a motoryacht aft enclosure.

IMHO - Do your research and pick the product that YOU are most comfortable with - cost, configuration, maintenance, etc. I have maintained and run boats with all types of enclosures and for my money, EZ2CY is the way to go with the Strataglass coming in second.

 

[Docrockit]

Smart move Ed! You will definately not be disappointed.