Where the $%#&!@&^% do I find old boat glass?

[ScooterMcTavish]

So if you followed my other thread, I purchased a 91 Bayliner 1850 that had great hull integrity and was mechanically sound. However, as a low price boat, it needed some cosmetic work.

One thing to change was the port side aft window, as the owner had replaced the original (broken) glass with lexan that has scratched and yellowed. I thought I could just stick some plexi in, and replace it with glass when I came across a piece.

Well, apparently plexi costs a lot more now than it used to, especially with a piece as long as I need for this window.

So instead of spending the cash on the plexi, I'd rather just skip straight to glass. However, from what I can google, I cannot find a ton of boat wreckers. Those I could find did not have this particular piece of glass in stock.

Just wanting feedback from others who've been through a similar situation.....where did you find the glass eventually? Any NOS out there? Any hints, tips or tricks? Or, should I just break down and get new lexan or plexi?

 

[jbcurt00]

Like this Bayliner:

If you go glass it needs to be temper/laminated safety glass, save you tried a glass place for glass?

Go thru all these places:
Salvage yards

And try Lanier Marine in Georgia. Some people report that they are difficult to deal w/ when you are actually at their boat yard, but even more so via the web, email or phone.

Good luck.

 

[redneck joe]

yeah, glass shop. When I worked at one I did a bunch.

You want tempered, not laminated. If you want to be bored let me know and I'll tell you why/what differences are. You can use either, but lami is fairly weak for this application.

If you are handy (sounds like it) take a piece of luan from lowes and cut yourself to fit. Make sure you test fit with the gasket - not sure if it is a one peice that would wrap around the glass or a two piece but spend the time to get a snug fit (not jammed tight) as tempered cannot be . Not sure if you will need 3/16" or 1/4" thick if the gasket is the wrap around take that to the glass shop with you.

Take the wood pattern to the glass store, have them cut a paper pattern they can use to make your piece. Save your template and when you pick up you can compare before you pay. You will not need any edge work other than the standard 'seamed' that has to be done when tempering.

Shop around, prices vary on custom cuts. Bonus if you can find a shop that is run by a boater - at least I always was price friendly when they came to me.

 

[redneck joe]

or, take the one off the opposite side and you have a perfect template - just be careful.

 

[Redfred1]

FWIW; Bayliner has its own Forum; Has a classified section in it; you can get parts from other boaters.

 

[redneck joe]

another idea you could just tint the window to cover the yellow. On my 21' Bay like that I rarely sat all the way down and looked out that glass.

 

[ScooterMcTavish]

Thanks for the idea guys.

jbcurt00 - tried a bunch of the yards listed, but still have a few to try.

redneck - don't these panels have a slight curvature? I've already left a message for a local glass guy I deal with, but if they are slightly curved, then I'll probably need a salvage piece right? I did keep the lexan as a template piece though.

Redfred1 - will mosey over to the BL forum at some point and check classifieds. Thanks.

 

[Scott Danforth]

original glass was probably taylor made. I know they have replacement channels, gaskets, etc. I have never contacted them for old glass.

I'm lucky, local plastic place near work does clear and smoked plexi replacments, will match any curve and shape.

And yes, it is not cheap.

 

[NYBo]

Redfred1 - will mosey over to the BL forum at some point and check classifieds. Thanks.

He wasn't referring to the Bayliner forum here at iboats; there are no classifieds for parts here. He was referring to a forum specifically for owners of that brand. I won't post a link so you'll have to Google it.

 

[ScooterMcTavish]

He wasn't referring to the Bayliner forum here at iboats; there are no classifieds for parts here. He was referring to a forum specifically for owners of that brand. I won't post a link so you'll have to Google it.

Found it, signed up, posted a "wanted" ad, and disappointedly saw an ad posted last year for a guy looking for the same thing. Gah.

 

[redneck joe]

Thanks for the idea guys.


redneck - don't these panels have a slight curvature? I've already left a message for a local glass guy I deal with, but if they are slightly curved, then I'll probably need a salvage piece right? I did keep the lexan as a template piece though.
.

Yes they do; good eye. On that piece, along that length, you will be able to bend tempered probably 2-3" at the end points, more if thin 1/8" temp with absolute impunity (assuming your have the rubber gasket if not still works just different install). I remember first time old Wally showed me how much bend glass can take. It is just plain tempered glass - nothing custom other than the cut. Unless you get lucky and find one, just hit the glass shop.


rj

 

[ScooterMcTavish]

Hey rj,

Thanks for the tip. However, my experience with tempered has been that when you put it under stress, then subject it to additional flexing and pressure, then it will eventually crack. Yes? Or if it is gasketed correctly, is that what prevents the dreaded "snap"?

Of course, this is a Bayliner, and we know the boat bends in half every time I hit a wave (LOL).

 

[redneck joe]

Yeah I'm owned a few Bay's and know the drill...


No tempered won't 'crack' - that would be the laminated, like your car windshield when you get a rock. Tempered breaks into a billion small pieces like small gravel but has much, much better strength. Lami is two pieces of 1/8" annealed glass (regular, plain stuff) with a 'plastic' between it. When it breaks it stays in place but since regular glass it does not have the extra strength that tempering gives it. Tempered Achilles heel is on the edges so yes very important to have gasketed correctly (and sized correctly that's why a good pattern is crucial) . It WILL take flexing/bending that a boat will put it thru.

For the pattern, the best thing would be to get the opposite side out and make a paper pattern out of that.

Wow it's amazing what I remember form 15 years ago.


I would stay away from plexi, lexan (scratch resistant) if you go that way but will probably be more than glass, which is what your really want.


rj

 

[Frank Acampora]

Jeez! I just junked a Bayliner and sold the whole windshield for 50 bucks. As I remember, the side glass is flat with no curve. However, what I sold was already plexi on the sides, not glass.

 

[ScooterMcTavish]

Seem to see a recurring theme here......apparently there were a few problems with these windows.

RJ, I did talk to my glass shop, and for the tempered, the cost is about 160% of the plexi. Think I'll get the plexi for now, then likely order the tempered next year when my DW won't complain about me spending $ on the boat. Plus I have a few other short term things to spend some $$$ on.

One member offered me his windows for shipping yesterday, but I see the mods reminded us that this should be handled via PM. If whoever offered this yesterday could PM me, maybe I have both a short and long-term solution.

 

[redneck joe]

talk to more than one glass shop....



rj

 

[ScooterMcTavish]

Thnx for the tip. Will do when I get a chance.

 

[Frank Acampora]

I have no qualms about the prohibition on solicitation on the open forum----BUT---when you can not send or receive a PM because of the new upgrade I think they should allow a little slack.

 

[jbcurt00]

Frank, unfortunately PM's & subscription post notifications are all lumped together.

Click the message icon at the top right of a forum page next to your user name.

Private messages are listed 1st. If the Inbox button is bolded, you have unread PM's in your inbox. If it's not, there are no new messages.

IF you are unable to send PM's it's likely your notifications list is full. It's a PITA, but I do this at least once a day, and as the forum has gotten less problematic to use & the #'s of posts have gone up, I often do this multiple times thru out the day:

Scroll down a little past your in box. About 2/3rds down that list should be Notifications. It is likely bolded. Click on Notifications. Once that takes you to a new screen you should see a page counter on the right side of the page.

1st click Select All at the top of the column of notifications. Then click DELETE. It may ask you to confirm deletion, confirm it. The list of notifications is now empty. If that was the only page of notifications, your done.

If you have more then 1 page of notifications, you'll have to repeat this process for every page.

To reload another page of Notifications you must re-click the Notifications on the left side of the screen. Doing that will reload another page of notifications. Again click Select All at the top of the column of notifications & click DELETE. It may ask you to confirm deletion, confirm it.

As you click thru deleting notifications, you should notice the number besides Message Center going down.

I used to read email notifications & if I though I needed to, I'd open the thread & post a reply. Now I simply click & delete them w/ out reading them. I did this process earlier today, and just now had 62messages clogging my Message center, it's 4 pages of notifications only. No PM's. So I did the click & delete process 4 times til the message center was empty.

Hope it helps ^^^