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EZ2CY cracked

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by CSkipR, Dec 13, 2010.

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  1. CSkipR

    CSkipR Member

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    This summer just replaced all 3 sides of flybridge with EZ2CY. Today with cold weather I went to open front panel and wind caught it and wound up with a 6" crack probably because of cold weather. Does anyone know if this can be repaired by a shop or if I can fix it myself. Someone said super glue will work.
  2. chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    I think your best bet is get a new section and be done with it.
    Talk to the people that made it for you.
  3. CSkipR

    CSkipR Member

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    Unfortunately they are out of business. As you probably know just replacing the front section is a couple of grand. Was hoping for another solution.
  4. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    CSkipR

    Do you have a continuous front panel? I have three sections to mine. A couple of years ago I did the same thing and was able to have a just the center panel replaced for about $700
  5. SHAZAM

    SHAZAM Senior Member

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    Exact same thing happened to me today while closing the center panel in the front. Thank God I was on someone elses boat...
  6. James sun

    James sun Guest

    If the cause of this crack from the cold weather, that means the material has its defeat. for temporary fix, one way is using one strip the same material gule on the crack outside, 3M has a kind of transparent PU gule. the best is to consult the manufacture.
  7. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Wouldn't call it a defect, just the nature of the material. EZ2CY gives the best vision next to glass, but it is a stiff 'plastic' that doesn't take bends well. Add cold to that and let the wind catch it and life gets a bit more expensive.
  8. Bamboo

    Bamboo Senior Member

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    Exactly. Don't mess with enclosures in the very cold is the solution, unfortunately.
  9. MBevins

    MBevins Senior Member

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    I've probably replaced 4-5 panels over the years on my boat. As long as you have the broken panel any other EZ2CY shop can replicate it for you. My average cost was about $6-800 per panel.
    DON'T EVEN THINK OF TRYING TO GLUE IT YOU WON'T WIN
  10. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Sounds like the voice of experience.
  11. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    If it was replaced like 6 months ago it should be under warranty. Call EZ2CY up and tell them your situation and how your person went out of business and they'll probably tell you who their other dealer is in your area and warranty it.

    Why would anyone be opening an enclosure on a day like today or yesterday anyways? LOLOLOL
  12. NEO56

    NEO56 Member

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    As opposed to opening a new thread, this looks like a good place to start. My new build is a 95 with a 10 foot cockpit raised pilothouse with an open fly bridge with a hardtop going halfway back on the top deck. I want to be able to enclose this part of the flybridge deck, so that I can enclose this area and Air Condition it. I was going to use EZ2CY enclosures...but now I'm not so sure. Would you please weigh in on this...it was my intention to have the surrounding area's in place and just flip up the EZ2CY panels when I wanted fresh air. A little help and advice would be greatly appreciated.
  13. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    You could have them flip up or slide behind one of the side panels. Good stuff. I'd recommend that you hinge in vents for those days when you want some air, but not the weather.

    May I ask what your hesitation is?
  14. NEO56

    NEO56 Member

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    Which is the more waterproof option? I would think that being able to flip them up would be the better route, as well as providing less leakage from the A/C.

    Which hesitation are you referring to? If it's my hesitation to starting the build, we (myself and two other partners) just started up an Oil and Gas company. I'm not completely sure of our cash flow as of yet. And I don't want to sign contracts yet, until I'm sure I can cover the checks. I made a rule many years ago, that I don't buy anything if I can't pay cash for it. That was probably too much information to post on this site...but I assume that was the basis of your question.
  15. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    No, he was referring to your hesitation on EZ2CY. You said, "I was going to use EZ2CY enclosures...but now I'm not so sure."
  16. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Actually it was bTMI. :D. I was referring to your hesitation to use EZ2CY. Are you considering a full glass enclosure Isinglass or .....? It sounded like something turned you off about it.
  17. NEO56

    NEO56 Member

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    I didn't realize that a panel was 600-800 bucks to repair or replace. I am curious as to how old the panels were when they cracked. My boat is going to mainly be in the Caribbean...but still.
    There are so many options out now...I'm not sure which the best options are. I'm not concerned about costs...but longevity, ease of maintenance, etc. And which product will seal the best to make cooling the area without seepage.
  18. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    The best enclosure is glass, but that's expensive, heavy and requires a frame.
    Of the more pliable panels EZ2CY is best, but it's expensive and has limitations. It can't be rolled or folded. Stratoglass is best of the panels you can roll, with isinglass of varying thickness next. The thinner the material, the more flexible it is; the cheaper it is and the lower the quality.
    All 'plastic' windows become stiff and brittle in cold weather. All must be properly cared for. Polish them with something like Plexis (not Windex), and don't brush them. They all keep the weather out if properly installed. If you're cruising the bays on weekends almost anything will do. If you're going to be directing thousands of gallons of ocean at it on a regular basis, thicker is better.
  19. Caltexflanc

    Caltexflanc Senior Member

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    The aft deck of my Hatteras (see photo next post) is EZ2CY. Wonderful stuff, highly recommended. The center panel folded up and attached to the aft deck ceiling.

    We did this maneuver maybe a thousand or two times, we liked having it up in fair weather and for access to the swim platform / dinghy, and for line handling.

    We managed to crack it at the top, by not fully unzipping the side zipper and not paying attention. Cost us less than 300 to replace, maybe just got lucky with a good canvas shop. I think it was cracked about 6 months before replacement. No water intrusion as it stays tight to itself.

    The visual acuity is phenomenal, as good as glass. Wouldn't think of using anything else for a big enclosure.
  20. Caltexflanc

    Caltexflanc Senior Member

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    Site doesn't support photos like others?

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