The Boat Guy: Protecting your plastic windows from damage and fading – Part 1
August 13, 2026
by Marc Robic
For many boaters, having custom canvas installed, such as dodgers, raised pilot station canopies all the way to full enclosures, can truly make boating much more enjoyable as well as comfortably extend the season, protected us from the elements and weather conditions.
We also know how important it is to have full and clear visibility. Constant exposure to the sun and weather can easily and quickly make the plastic windows fade, yellowish and dull, making visibility difficult, not to mention a bit of a frustration.
Autumn is coming, so now is the time to get your canvas in good condition.
Today, there are many different types of plastic window materials on the market claiming longer and more durable life spans, more resistant to scratches, sun and weather, etc. And, as all things do, these come with their respective price tags as well.
There are also a myriad products on the market making their own claims of better protection against the sun and elements, leaving a protective coating. Many brands offer multi-step solutions products to restore the plastic windows to a clearer finish. Personally, I keep away from any miracle products claiming to restore to like new condition with one easy step. In my experience, these simply do not work as claimed. BUT, if you know of such a product, this writer would be delighted to hear about it and give them a try. (Let me know at the address below.)
Don’t get me wrong, I do use products such as Plexus, Novus, Dry Shine and Clear to Sea to regularly clean and protect my plastic windows. But I am not under any illusion that they will protect them from fading forever. It will still happen but over a longer period of time. As for my dodger, pictured in this article, it is now well over 17 years old and the windows are still very much see-through. The care I’ve been giving them has unquestionably been helpful. But I wanted to protect them even more in order to slow the continuous deleterious effects of the sun & the environment for as long as possible, the cost of replacement of a full dodger or windows being a considerable important factor.
So, the truly best way to give these windows the longest possible life span, is to actually cover them up. Which is exactly what I did, and it only took me a day to design, create a pattern and have a perfectly fitting cover made. We will detail the simple steps next time
Look for Protecting your plastic windows from damage and fading –Part 2 – making covers in OnBoard August 27
Marc Robic – The Boat Guy – Marc is a member of BoatCan who, with his wife, sails their Catalina 270, Aquaholic 3, out of the Ile-Perrot Yacht Club in Montreal, where Marc spent 16 years as Harbour Master. They are also regular Caribbean bareboat yacht charterers.
With over 40-years experience on boats, Marc is our OnBoard do-it-yourselfer.
