Low E Glass vs. light tint laminated safety glass

[Bill Root]

I'm ready to have the new glass cut for the bridge deck windows in my 43' DCMY. The glass cutter suggested I consider "low e" sfatey glass as an alternative to the light tint laminated safety glass originally installed on the boat. The 43 DCMY has a pretty big green house, so he thought the low e glass would help reduce heat on the bridge. Anyone out there have any experience with this? I want to do the job once and do it right.

 

[scott]

In my opinion laminated glass should be used for marine use since it can break from a heavy wave but not fall out of the frame. You may be able to get a low-e laminated unit which would be made up of one lite of 1/8" pyrolitic low-e, a .060 or 0.75 PVP interlayer and 1/8" lite. Ask you glass company whether or not the pyrolitic should be on the exterior or interior of the unit makeup. I am guessing the exterior to reduce heat buildup of the unit.I would suggest calling Sams or Hatteras since the makeup of marine glass units differ. Certainly heavier PVB interlayers than normal household which is 0.030. At times tempered over tempered is used with a PVB interlayer to make the overall unit much stronger, much like windshield glass on a car.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I would stick with laminated glass as well. You can get different tints to reduce heat build up. The safety glass can shatter and it not a great alternative for a boat.

 

[Bill Root]

Thanks for your responses. For clarification, the "low e" glass is also laminated. The coating that reduces the heat transfer is between the layers of glass. Having said that, it can't be tinted, so the choice is between clear laminated low-e and tinted laminated. Right now I'm thinking the light tinting may be more important.

 

[spartonboat1]

On the Great Lakes I don't believe we have the very high natural lighting found in the South. I have replaced several glass windows and installed the standard laminated glass, which is slightly greyed out naturally by the glass and lamination. I removed the darkened thin plastic coating from the interior glass, where I could, because it was too dark overall and esp for night running, which I do from time to time (get caught out late).

On forward glass, I agree on the laminated vs. tempered glass. Some on this site have boats big enough to run in the big seas of Lake Michigan (Lk Superior...woof), and the others, which are also quite big.

At Mack Isle I was talking to the owner of a vintage 60+' Bertram Cvt who had it major refinished...beautiful (before they peeled apart when new!). He said ran it home in big seas on Lk MI and stuffed the bow in a 12 footer and the sea ran all the way to the flybridge. Guests not overly pleased. So I agree that strong glass facing forward is high value.

 

[Bill Root]

I appreciate all your insights. I'm going with the light tinted laminated safety glass.

 

[fastblast]

I seem too have a window project looming in my future also. the Low E Glass stuff is pritty impressive and could do a lot to save my furniture and interior varnish. What would be wrong with an automotive type tinting on them? could this be the best of both worlds? any thoughts about this?

 

[Brian Degulis]

Something I've learned just recently is that some marine window manufactures are no longer using laminated safty glass. They are useing tempered glass in everything including windshields. They claim the new technology in tempered glass makes it so hard to break they feel that even though it does shatter it's better than saftey glass. The Low E glass is very popular here in FL and it does reduce heat I used it in my home and you can feel a diffrence in heat transfer.

Brian