ForceHeadache
Cadet
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2002
- Messages
- 26
Got a good one for you all....<br /><br />Bought a brand new boat last year - a Bayliner 175, 17 1/2 foot bowrider with inboard 135hp Mercruiser. This replaced our 1985 Bayliner of similar make and model. The wife and 2 daughters love to hit the lake every chance we get - wakeboarding, skiing, tubing, swimming, etc... and of course I use it for fishing when they give me permission. Anyway, our new boat has been a real treat, especially not having to work on that old outboard Force motor that was on the old boat. I have been adding some accessories here and there. 2 weekends ago, I decided I needed a rear-view mirror, since my neck was sore every time we came back from a fun day on the lake. I purchase a nice one from Academy Sports, get home and am going to get it installed. I decide the best way to mount it is to drill a couple small pilot holes in the windshield frame. Tell myself to make sure not to hit the glass windshield when drilling. If I feel any resistance, stop immediately. No problem. Drilling goes without a problem. Get my screws and mounting plate, start screwing them in - 1st one goes in fine. #2, not so good. Get about 3/4 way in and BAM!!!, windshield cracks and a thousand (or more) pieces of tempered glass fall all over my brand new boat. Ever had that sick feeling in your stomach??? Wife's not home, good - run to Lowes, get 1/4 inch thick plexiglass and try to cut it to shape, install and clean up mess before she gets home. Wierd shape, miss the first try. 2nd attempt goes better, but 1/4 inch is too thick. Go get another piece of 1/8 inch and cut to shape. Works better this time. No fun trying to get back together though - rubber seals and plexiglass, along with frame and drilled out rivets. Call the dealer and ask how much new windshield is - $225. Your kidding me, I put a new, XL windshield in my truck for $150. Call used boat places and they tell me even bayliner not universal and didn't have a clue since it's a 2003 model. Plexiglass looks like all other glass in boat - it's staying. Lesson learned on my part - be patient, check 2-3 times and then again.
Does the wife know what happened? Is that still our secret? She may start wondering whwn the plexy starts clouding over. Good Luck. 