How much to spend on a new boat windshield

Admin5

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 29, 1998
Messages
683
Lets assume that you have a boat 5 years or older. Your kid leans up against the windshield and it busts (happens all the time). What is the maximum amount would you be willing to spend for complete replacement glass and frame?<br /><br />Assume that the replacement is modern-style curved glass that looks like this:<br />
windshield.gif
 

f_inscreenname

Commander
Joined
Aug 23, 2001
Messages
2,591
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

I will pass on this one. If the best price is "under a grand" I will fix what I have.
 

KennyKenCan

Commander
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Aug 26, 2002
Messages
2,501
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

I've already had to replace one of the curved sections of glass on my boat, because someone figured they needed a 32oz weight on their line for casting into heavy tidal flow! What an idiot! The only thing he caught that day was my windshield! SMASH!!<br /><br />Fortunatly, my brother has a Glass and Storefront buisiness, so I had him make me a new piece of curved safety glass for me. Only cost me $220.<br /><br />Check with your local glass retailer, and see if he can make the pieces you need.
 

Realgun

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Jul 31, 2003
Messages
2,484
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

My boat is missing a side glass piece and was quoted 400 from Bayliner to replace just that piece. No way am I spending 50% of the price of my boat to fix a window. :) . On the other hand I want a shorter window(sides) that looks good but must be under 500 dollars for the whole thing.<br />I must be dreaming.
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
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May 19, 2001
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Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

I would only repair the section that needed it. Aluminum channel can be welded pretty cheap and there are automotive shops that still curve glass.<br /><br />Bob
 

TwoBallScrewBall

Lieutenant Commander
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Sep 14, 2003
Messages
1,695
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

I agree about not replacing the entire thing. Maybe say "How much would you pay for the entire winsdhield, knowing that you can also get 1/2 of it if needed for 1/2 the price of the full one?"
 

bomar76

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 27, 2002
Messages
1,963
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

I know of many guys with $30K+ boats that would be thrilled to obtain NLA glass for $1-2K<br /><br /><br />It's all relative.
 

walleyehed

Admiral
Joined
Jun 29, 2003
Messages
6,767
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

I put the new-style wrap-around windshield on my project starcraft that I got the P/N off of a new starcraft in 2002. The sides don't go back like you have pictured which is a "sport" windshield, but curved corners and comes back about 16"...from Starcraft, it was 755.00 complete with supports and all hardware. 18" tall, bottom to top-laid back with an 80" spread.<br />Walk-thru of course.
 

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
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Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

Sorry.......No Thrill Here......<br /><br />All My boats are Flat Glass.......... Much Simpler....
 

sangerwaker

Commander
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Jul 29, 2004
Messages
2,059
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

MIne, too. Bondo. Personally, I would probably find someone to make me a replacement piece rather than replace the whole thing too.
 

roscoe

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
21,753
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

"(happens all the time)"<br />Yeah right !!<br /><br />You did not have a selection for $0.00, so I could not vote.<br />It would come out of the kids bank account, or hide.<br /><br />I purposely selected a boat with a flat windshield.<br />No custom curved glass or custom made, boat model specific Lexan windscreen on my boat. I repaced my straight flat one for under $70, 2 years ago.
 

aspeck

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May 29, 2003
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19,102
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

would not let me vote, but I would repair before replacement unless replacement was less than repair. If it was over about $600, I would take the whole thing off, fill in the holes, and go windshield free! When boating I want the wind in my face anyway!
 

Tinkerer

Senior Chief Petty Officer
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Mar 15, 2003
Messages
760
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

I voted, in the cheapskate category.<br /><br />I might replace mine if it got like a mate's who's got a few big Z's of a foot to 18 inches through it where the cracks are sewn with wire every half inch, but as I've only got a few holes drilled to stop my cracks I'll let it go until there's maybe a dozen or 20, or maybe more, holes drilled in it. The worst part about the holes is that they sing at anchor in a light wind on a quiet day, so I'm going to fill them with sealant.<br /><br />Then again if I had a new boat and lots of money like the market iboats is aiming at, very few of whom are on these forums ...
 

Capn Mike

Chief Petty Officer
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Dec 10, 2001
Messages
561
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

Easy for you to say, Tinkerer....the TV was showing the tennis players sweat in Melbourne last night.....Here it gets a little cooler and rains.<br />Windshield holes held together with wire?! And I was fussing over a leak between the frame and glass on my boat!
 

walleyehed

Admiral
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Jun 29, 2003
Messages
6,767
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

Mike, the "stitch" method is how you repair an aircraft windshield crack, and is an "accepted" FAA practice! Of course only smaller, slower aircraft have windshields made of "other than glass" materials. Our 690B turbo Commander required a co-pilot side windshield replacement, and the piece of glass alone was 32,000.00-NO KIDDING!!!! Labor was about 6 grand to put it in.....
 

Tinkerer

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Mar 15, 2003
Messages
760
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

Originally posted by Capn Mike:<br /> Easy for you to say, Tinkerer....the TV was showing the tennis players sweat in Melbourne last night.....Here it gets a little cooler and rains.<br />
Yes, it's terrible weather here. Forces me to use the swimming pool all the time when I'm not in the boat. <br /><br />Rain's not an issue in my open boat. If it starts raining seriously it's time to go home.
 

Jcrain

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 7, 2004
Messages
210
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

$6,000? Heck, I'd do it for less than that, and, it'd be a legal fix.<br /><br />I re-did a old chrysler 14 footer that sunk in a storm, ripped the windsheilds off. About 2 years after i recovered the boat, the lake went down to a point to where I found the windshields, or, what was left of them. A bit of aircraft plexi-glass and it looks gooder than new.
 

rwidman

Lieutenant
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May 27, 2004
Messages
1,396
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

I paid about $280.00 for one curved piece to fit the existing frame. What are you gonna do, ride around with the glass missing? Take the whole windshield off and wear goggles? :rolleyes: <br /><br />BOAT = Break Out Another Thousand!
 

Mark42

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
9,334
Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

If I had an expensive newer boat and the windshield broke, no matter what the cost, it would be fixed under the insurance policy. <br /><br />At least I like to think I am smart enough to carry comprehensive coverage on my multi thousand dollar boat, right?<br /><br />Common, shake your head up and down. Thank you.<br /><br />Mark.
 
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