TheOtherLine
Well-known member
On the premise that I could improve circulation in the berth area and after having read several positive posts about the rain shields, I purchased a set of double louvered, internal rain shields model irs-512s, 5 x 12. for my 2006 2520., which is what I read I should buy.
The instructions suggest that you simply remove the rubber gasket halfway, remove the screen, slide the rain shield into position as far as possible, stretch the gasket back onto the frame, then repeat on the other side.
No such luck. The gasket is glued in and while it comes off easy enough, once removed, there is no just putting back onto the frame.
Second, the rain shield is both, too tall and too wide to fit into the opening, so, you have to cut it or sand it down. I chose to cut it. Cleaner, straighter, faster than sanding. We're talking about 1/4" all the way around on ALL sides.
Finally, since the shield can't fit where the screen WAS, you have to place it OVER the lip where the screen was, which leaves a gap.
The instructions DO say that you may have to silicone around the edges. Count on it.
Finally, after you place the shield in the frame, you have to add a gasket between it and the glass window otherwise it looks like s%#t. Can't use the old one cuz it's too thick.
What a PITA.
If you are thinking about installing these, on a 2006 2520, you may want to consider the external shields.
I know there are guys on here who have installed them effortlessly on their 2520 or other model, but I'm telling you,...in that year, that model, it's not a 10 minute install.
After having screwed around with this one window for about 40 minutes, I went to the website to see if I am missing something. I noticed they have another size in the single louver model. Now I'm wondering if the single louver (4x10) might have been the right size. 4 x10 is about the size of the stock screen.
I'm going to go check.....
The instructions suggest that you simply remove the rubber gasket halfway, remove the screen, slide the rain shield into position as far as possible, stretch the gasket back onto the frame, then repeat on the other side.
No such luck. The gasket is glued in and while it comes off easy enough, once removed, there is no just putting back onto the frame.
Second, the rain shield is both, too tall and too wide to fit into the opening, so, you have to cut it or sand it down. I chose to cut it. Cleaner, straighter, faster than sanding. We're talking about 1/4" all the way around on ALL sides.
Finally, since the shield can't fit where the screen WAS, you have to place it OVER the lip where the screen was, which leaves a gap.
The instructions DO say that you may have to silicone around the edges. Count on it.
Finally, after you place the shield in the frame, you have to add a gasket between it and the glass window otherwise it looks like s%#t. Can't use the old one cuz it's too thick.
What a PITA.
If you are thinking about installing these, on a 2006 2520, you may want to consider the external shields.
I know there are guys on here who have installed them effortlessly on their 2520 or other model, but I'm telling you,...in that year, that model, it's not a 10 minute install.
After having screwed around with this one window for about 40 minutes, I went to the website to see if I am missing something. I noticed they have another size in the single louver model. Now I'm wondering if the single louver (4x10) might have been the right size. 4 x10 is about the size of the stock screen.
I'm going to go check.....
