Windshield or No Windshield on a Pontoon boat

Bayou Dave

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Dec 13, 2012
Messages
1,780
If they want 6 grand for that small, itty bitty, windshield they are thieves! My pontoon has the same size windshield and all I use it for is to keep the stero remote, sunglasses,etc on the helm so they won't fall off.
 

MRS

Commander
Joined
Jul 10, 2005
Messages
2,580

under 300 bucks put on your self best thing besides tabs I put on the boat.:joyous:
 

S.A. Baker

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 9, 2015
Messages
227
Snowmobile windshield and fabricated brackets. It 's what's now on my bass boat! Cheap if you get the windshield at a salvage place!
 

thumpar

Admiral
Joined
Jun 21, 2007
Messages
6,138
My boat will do those speeds and I normally will have my head above the windshield for visibility at full speed.
 

steelespike

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
19,069
I've been boating since I was 6 (67 years). never had a boat with a windshield .Never felt like I needed a windshield.
Actually I had a number of vintage boats with windshields the fastest was a 1953 Chris-craft , about 35.We would sit up on the seat back
because it was more fun.
 

jkust

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
4,942
We are at the point of thinking about adding a pontoon to the fleet. One thing I don't like is that with the standard pontoon (I've never actually ever seen a pontoon wrap around windshield) is the lack of ability to get out of the wind. It's always windy on our lake it seems and it just wears on you. With the bowrider, of course, when you get to the point of being over winded, every one just heads to the back of the boat and you close the center window. 6 grand is an expensive option but for people who are replacing all of their boats with a pontoon, I can see it.
 

ziggy

Admiral
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
7,473
imho, if yer thinking about the windscreen and debating, ya probably want one. what's another 6k on top of 72k.
i'm with jkust.
It's always windy on our lake it seems and it just wears on you
i find this to be very true. after a windy day at the lake, i'm just fizzed out when i get home. even with a windscreen. i i'm ahead of that too, mines a hard top with side windows and a windscreen. a windy day really wears me out. and being able to get out of the wind is a real plus for having a great time out even when it is windy out.
if ya like having the wind in yer hair. open the center + look out over the top of the windscreen. surly for 72k ya get bolster seat for the driver. if not, sit on a pfd or two. i'd say sit on the seat back like someone else said. done that many a time back in the 70's. but this day and age, in my area, this behavior will get ya visit from the dnr claiming unsafe boating practices.... gotta be sitting 'in' your boat while underway.
i'm not sure i'd engineer a windscreen on that very expensive nice boat. might be able to make it effective, but surely ya'd be hard pressed to make it look stylish like that boat itself. if yer getting the windscreen to be able to see good instead of through tears in the wind, the goggles someone else suggested seems like a good idea...
fwiw, i said i got a hardtop with side windows. i can't imagine what my next boat will be. this feature of my boat makes it very usable in many conditions. most boats don't have this feature, but i find it highly desirable for my kind of boating. pleasure boating. my last boat was just an old trihull. it did have a windscreen w/soft top. i used it that way often with the top up. guess i like to control my environment best i can, if i can. a windscreen is a step in that direction i think.
 

tlombard

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Messages
115
In my area $6k will get you a nice used 18-20ft ski boat, especially this time of the year. That's crazy for a windshield.
 

BRICH1260

Lieutenant
Joined
Jul 6, 2011
Messages
1,405
It would be nice to have but not for 6K. I would try to find some type of aftermarket that fit the boat nicely.
 
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