How much to spend on a new boat windshield

[MrBill]

Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

My vote for under$1000, meant WELL UNDER $1000, like $350. There are alot of options that can be taken before spending $1000, and a windshield doesn't make it start all the time or improve performance...on second thought...if the windshield were off could you get 2 mph on the top end??<br /><br />Happens all the time??? My kids are now 18, 21 and 25, been in boats 75 to 125 days a year, and I've never lost a windshield. Even through some nasty teenage years when they took out the boats themselves with groups of friends. A sunken one, yes, but never a broken windshield.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

Guess it depends on whether you're proud to be seen in a boat with crap patch windshields, or prefer to use a complete, matched assembly for that "Just like new" look.<br />To some (me included) appearance is a pride thing, and in those situations, you can't put a price on "What you want".

 

[Admin5]

Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

Wonderful, honest comments. Thanks! Here is an update. Because of the apparent demand, we would also include in the lineup a flat glass windshield to try to satisfy all tastes and styles. <br /><br />Now for clarification:<br />My glass experts say it is impossible to cut or mold safety glass once it has cooled the first time. Those of you that said that you had it done, are you sure it was glass or was it plexiglass or lexan?

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

Originally posted by walleyehed:<br /> Guess it depends on whether you're proud to be seen in a boat with crap patch windshields, or prefer to use a complete, matched assembly for that "Just like new" look.<br />To some (me included) appearance is a pride thing, and in those situations, you can't put a price on "What you want".

The heck you cant put a price on it. I want a lot of stuff but selling the farm to get it is not a option in most cases. A grand for a windshield is a lot of money. Maybe if you have a new boat and insurance is paying for it or if you are restoring a classis boat that the total windshield is missing a “off the shelf windshield” might work but all boats are a little different. If the boat was newer I am sure you would have to buy it from the boats manufacture for it to fit right (most new boat owners would not take anything less from a insurance co), a classic restore would probably have to be custom or home made. So would I buy a universal windshield for a grand that will not fit like the manufactures (a question about you saying “its a pride thing)?? I don't think so. I would either get the glass from the manufacturer or have a custom piece of Plexiglas made. A side note; my boat came from the factory with a Plexiglas windshield and was clear and fine for 30 years so a replacement window doesn't need to be tempered glass. <br /> To Admin5 ; How would you be able to carry all the different boat makers windshields? Every boat is a little different then the next so a universal would be hit or miss.

 

[Mark42]

Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

Admin5,<br /><br />"Safety Glass" means many different types of glass. Tempered glass can not be cut by glass cutters, and that is probably what your expert is referring to. Laminated safty glass, like auto windshield glass, can be cut with a glass cutter. That's how they make those chop-pop hot rods. <br /><br />Mark.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

f_inscreenname, you've built/rebuilt boats...you know darn well what I'm saying...<br />I put a factory windshield from a 2002 Starcraft on my 1979 Starcraft with a little modifications of my consoles....yes, it's modified, but nobody could tell by looking. That's the "pride" part.<br />I could've bought a cheap, generic fits-all type, but didn't. What I meant was do it right the first time insted of wishing I would have done it another way.. <br />btw, you post a pic of your boat because you're proud of the way it looks so that tells me we're on the same page over-all.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

True Kenny but you went out and found a windshield that you could modify so it would fit your boat. iboats would have to carry a bunch of different windshield (to many). One or two generics for top dollar I do not think would be a good seller. I may be wrong. Just don't want the host company to go out of business.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: How much to spend on a new boat windshield

Understand.....maybe I misunderstood admin5's question...