Installing HÜPER OPTIK® CERAMIC 40 Film

[Kaptajnen]

I saw the below reference to this product, which has been approved for use on U.S. Coast Guard vessels to cut down on glare through windows, reduce damage from UV radiation and make the interior of the boat cooler.

Does anybody have any experience with this film?

Marine Window Films

The marine environment is one of the harshest on coatings, surfaces and fixtures. It takes a proven toughness of Nano-Ceramic Coating to endure a life at sea. The Hüper Optik Ceramic window films offer a cooler cabin environment, an increase in fuel efficiency, a reduction in glare during the brightest parts of the day and does not reduce the visibility through your windows at night.

Other coatings are subject to separation and peeling over extended exposure to the harsh salt water environment. The reduction in your need to provide cooling in your cabin for comfort is a relief to the draw on your engines horsepower.

Some of the toughest visibility challenges come on the water. Whether the combination of the sun or the reflected glare from the water, Hüper Optik Performance films provide a polarized light and reduce the glare. The night time view is not reduced due to the high shine of other products. This combination makes for safe passage during the day or night.

Hüper Optik coatings provide additional protection to your investment. The reduction of the harmful UV rays will extend the fading protection to your interior.

http://www.huperoptikusa.com/wp-content ... -Guard.pdf

 

[Todd2]

Thanks for posting this. Wish it would have come a month earlier. My luck. HA!

I haven't heard of it, but I just tinted every window/door/hatch on my boat with Llumar Air 80 - the only tint I found that DOT approves for tinting an entire car windshield (I'm sure there are others). Something like 43% heat reduction, and about 99/100% UV protection (like most films today). I don't remember the glare reduction, but the installer was impressed by it. It's also a ceramic that comes with a good (lifetime?) warranty against bubbling and peeling. The windows appear noticeably darker when looking from the outside-in when the interior is shaded (by curtains or whatever). They look almost clear from the outside when the interior is lit up from the inside. Looking from the inside-out I cannot tell any difference during the day. I cannot comment yet about night vision while driving (it was a pitch black night anyway), but this was a high priority to me when selecting a film.

The tint does make a noticeable difference in the A/C efficiency, but don't expect the inside of your boat to feel like a refrigerator. There is virtually no insulation anywhere in the boat (except monkey fur and headliner material). I still have to block the sun with the curtains on the sunny side to cool it down to a comfortable level on sunny days - but it is definitely cooler inside. Next I'll be installing shades under each hatch to block the overhead sun. Then something for the windshields.

I'm not endorsing any widow tinting film over any another - just sharing my experiences so y'all can make an informed decision of your choice (too late for me, now). Remember too dark of a tint can build up too much heat in the glass and shatter the window, depending on tempered or laminated glass (something my installer said I was OK with). I will add, buy the good brand name stuff with the proper specs you are interested in - there really is a difference. Good luck.

Todd

 

[Kaptajnen]

I finally had the 4 front windows and the door on the starboard side tinted with HüberOptik Ceramic 40 Film.
The job was done expertly by Tim, the owner of Emerald City Windows Tinting in Seattle.
The job involved more than 3 hours of some very exacting cutting and placement of the german film. It is not an inexpensive job, but I am really pleased with the result. (Photos in my album).

 

[ethanbarnett]

Ok I will ask what most are thinking. What kind of cost are we looking at for this wonderful product?

 

[Kaptajnen]

The short answer - In my case, around $125. per window.

 

[Wee Venture]

Claus, thank you for posting this! We had not previously known about it but are now strongly considering it. A few questions:
•Is it applied to the inside or outside of the windows?
•Do you have to be careful about scratching, and are there special procedures for cleaning?
•Does your installation also offer guarantees against peeling/bubbling?
•You may not yet know the answer to this, but I wear polarized sunglasses and I understand the film is polarized. I wonder if there are any visual artifacts/interference patterns from viewing the outside world through two polarization filters? Just speculating.

Thanks again for leading the way on this. We may be getting in contact with the same installer that you used.

John

 

[Kaptajnen]

Claus, thank you for posting this! We had not previously known about it but are now strongly considering it. A few questions:
•Is it applied to the inside or outside of the windows?
•Do you have to be careful about scratching, and are there special procedures for cleaning?
•Does your installation also offer guarantees against peeling/bubbling?
•You may not yet know the answer to this, but I wear polarized sunglasses and I understand the film is polarized. I wonder if there are any visual artifacts/interference patterns from viewing the outside world through two polarization filters? Just speculating.


It is applied inside the windows. It has a scratch-resistant hardcoat. Clean it with a product that does not contain ammonia. It has a 5 year warranty against any defects. I don’t think it is polarized, but I will check next time I am on the boat.

 

[Wee Venture]

Thanks for the quick response! I bet you’ll find that it’s polarized. But if so, I consider that a good thing.

 

[Kaptajnen]

No, it is NOT polarized.

Suggest you call Tim Graves (the owner of Emerald City Tinting) for any further info. 206-334-6084.

After your “Huper Optik Window Film” has been installed
FILM DRY-OUT TIME
Your window film dealer will install your window film using a specially formulated mounting solution. During the installation process, your dealer will remove as much of the mounting solution as possible although a small amount will remain. Trapped installation moisture can cause small water bubbles and/or a slightly cloudy, hazy or blotchy look, this is normal and should be expected. Do not attempt to pierce a water bubble during the dry out period. Water bubbles and a cloudy look will eventually dissipate. Attempting to pierce a water bubble in an effort to drain moisture will damage your film. This damage is not covered by the warranty.
CLIMATE CONDITIONS & DRY-OUT TIME
Cold and cloudy weather conditions can lengthen the dry-out time. Warm weather and direct sun light will accelerate the dry- out time. If slow drying occurs, do not become alarmed. The trapped moisture will dry-out completely. Safety and security films will always have a long dry-out period due to their increased thickness. Thicker films and less than perfect drying climate will lengthen the dry-out period. Dry-out times can vary from a few days to as much as 6 months.
WINDOW FILM CARE & MAINTENANCE
To obtain maximum service life from your window film, note the following instruction for proper care and maintenance. CLEANING
Do not clean the film sooner than 30 days after installation. This will help to secure proper curing of the special adhesive to the glass.
CLEANING SOLUTIONS
Do not use ammonia solutions to clean any window film product. An effective and economical cleaning solution for window film is 112 ounces of liquid dish soap (Joy or Dawn) added to 1 quart of fresh water.
CLEANING MATERIALS
A clean soft cloth or a clean synthetic sponge is recommended for washing the window film, followed by another clean soft cloth or soft rubber squeegee for drying. Do not use abrasive materials to clean your film. Avoid using bristle brushes, abrasive scrubbing sponges or any other cleaning materials that could scratch the film. Some brands of paper towels are coarse enough to put fine scratches in the film. While these scratches may be too thin to see at the beginning, they can damage the polished look of the film over time. Always use soft clean materials to wash and dry your window film.

 

[ssobol]

....
CLEANING SOLUTIONS
Do not use ammonia solutions to clean any window film product. An effective and economical cleaning solution for window film is 112 ounces of liquid dish soap (Joy or Dawn) added to 1 quart of fresh water.
...

Seems like a lot of soap to put in a quart of water. Going to need a pretty big bucket.

 

[knotflying]

That does seem like a lot of soap to water ratio.

 

[bob daily]

Maybe 1 and 1/2 ounce?

 

[Kaptajnen]

Right - 1 and 1/2 ounce. (Guess the translation from German was a bit sketchy).