What's the Best Way to Clean and Maintain your Isinglass?

Today's large fishing boats and cruisers usually have some form of plastic glass, isinglass, or strata glass covering the helm area. These sensitive plastics can scratch or haze easily, so it's essential to use the right tools and methods to maintain them. Today, Captain Sam McGinley breaks down the basics of cleaning these materials so they can look brand new for years to come.

Starting off, you'll need the right chemical that will clean your isinglass without damaging the material. Britewash, our biodegradable boat soap, is a perfect choice for lifting and trapping the sediment, salt, and grime that can accumulate on your clear plastics without harming the finish. That means there's no need to switch chemicals as you wash your boat, so you can easily flow from the hardtop straight to the glass without wasting time.

Next, you'll need to choose the right tool for the job. This is very important, as hard or abrasive fabrics will leave micro-scratches in the glass, leaving it looking hazy or marred. That's why we developed our Extra-Soft Deck Brush, a specialized tool that was specifically engineered to clean isinglass and strata glass. It gently removes debris from the surface, lifting the grime into the brush and away from the glass. Nothing cleans better!

After the glass has been washed, it's very important to use a chamois or microfiber towel to remove any excess water. Any leftover water beads on the glass will eventually dry, leaving behind a water spot that will be easily visible on the clear plastic. For best results, use a high quality chamois like our Deluxe Water Sprite Hand Towel or Mop.

Finally, if you need to do a quick touch up, make sure to avoid household cleaners that are usually filled with harsh chemicals. Instead, stick with our Serious Shine to remove those handprints, food stains, and sunscreen from the surface of your isinglass. Just spray it on and buff to a beautiful shine with a clean microfiber towel and the plastic will look as good as new.

That's it! The maintenance of your isinglass and strata glass is really that simple, especially when using the right products. Until next time, we're here to help keep your boat Clean-N-Simple!