Overuse of Plastic in Camperback?

marco422 · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 5:13 pm Post subject: Overuse of Plastic in Camperback?

The previous owner of my boat had a fully-enclosed camperback made. It has large windows to port, starboard and stern. The window plastic is wrapped around all the way, including between the windows where there is Sunbrella and behind the support poles. In other words it forms an interior liner behind the Sunbrella. It does not extend overhead.

The previous owner thought that made it easier to clean inside, but I have noticed deposits that look like salt behind the plastic and am concerned that the plastic prevents the canvas from drying out properly.

Any thoughts? Should I cut away the sections behind the Sunbrella?

starcrafttom · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:16 pm Post subject:

I have large windows all the way around my camper but the clear plastic does not extend from one window to the other. I see no reason to not cut the extra away.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2009 12:05 am Post subject:

The plastic was probably put in as a single sheet, then sewn around the openings and left in place for the sake of simplicity in assembly, but trapping salt between it and the Sunbrella will only attract moisture (the salt being hydroscopic), and result in increased mildew problems.

Without seeing the exact structural assembly, I'd suggest you either cut the excess out or cut openings in it to be able to wash out the salt accumulation.

Does the entire cover assembly depend in any way on the extra plastic for structural inetegrity?

Joe. Teeth

thataway · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:59 pm Post subject:

I would agree that usually the Sunbrella does not have the clear vinyl behind it. Clear vinyl comes in rolls or sheets. The better quality is in finate sheets--such as 3 x 4 feet.

I don't think I would cut out vinyl if it were only several inches--if it was 6" apart, and the seams were good, then I would cut it out. I would wash the Sunbella well and try and flush out any salt.

thataway · Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:59 pm Post subject:

I would agree that usually the Sunbrella does not have the clear vinyl behind it. Clear vinyl comes in rolls or sheets. The better quality is in finate sheets--such as 3 x 4 feet.

I don't think I would cut out vinyl if it were only several inches--if it was 6" apart, and the seams were good, then I would cut it out. I would wash the Sunbella well and try and flush out any salt.

jhwilson · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:48 am Post subject: