boat windscreen

[lbger]

Hi all,
I have a boat that i have recently bought and the windscreen is a little worn.. its made out of perspex i think (its not glass) it is not the best to see out of and i need to get it replaced.. what would be the best idea of where to start? the boat has a bimini that is clipped with press studs into the frame of the windscreen and looks to be a homemade arrangement from before i bought it.. Is it easy enough to do yourself or should i leave it upto someone who really knows what they are doing?
cheers in advance and any comments would be appreciated.
Nathan.

[rayken1938]

First off try and polish it with brasso quite often that will be all it needs. If it is not curved it is a reasonably easy job to replace ./ Your biggest problem will be the mounting screws may have grown into the ally.From memory polycarbonate is better than perspex.
Cheers
Ray

[Fed]

Not so sure about Brasso but I was going to replace mine until I tried Plexus, it really is an amazing product.

[FishHunter]

Dont use perspex, I had mine done about 2 years ago and its allready badly crazed from the sun. Polycarbonate or safety glass are the go

[Steeler]

As the Fed man says Plexus

[oldie]

where is best place to buy this plexus?

[Angryant]

where is best place to buy this plexus?

Got mine from Autobarn

[deckie]

Acrylic /perspex is actually quite UV stable...50% of the average windscreens that are "crazed" or "hazy" has come from using a product on it, or the one few consider, using a rag to clean..some of the rags we use to clean/polish are fairly abrasive to acrylics/polcarb....ie., we kill with kindness. May have been you or previous owner. The other 50% is more than likely from not rinsing salt off which becomes abrasive. i.e. lack of kindness. In general very few will admit to either causing the premature downfall. Age is always a distinct possibility coz nothing lasts forever in a harsh environment. Might sound funny but buffetting by the wind doesnt help coz its a bit more flexible than something like glass and flexes on a minute scale..over time that can cause it to lose a fair bit of its transparency too...aging. Never rub the surface with anything and will last a lot longer.
Try not to use anything other than either a specialist product specifically for acrylic (and i wouldnt trust any that simply mention acrylic as one use for it), or a very very weak detergent mix in water at most..a detergent that doesnt have all sorts of additives in it like ammonia. If u need proof of this spot something like windex in an out of the way corner of the screen, wait 6 months then have a look at it.
Havent bothered trying "plexus" or anything similar coz never found a need, getting great rep[orts though so might give it a try. I just put new stuff in maybe once every 7-10yrs. Lexan/Polyc is a fraction more abrasive resistant but probably no more UV tolerant than perspex/acrylic which is actually a good all round product for harsh marine environments.
So dont assume its just the sun doing the nasty on it...have a closer look at what YOU might be doing , especially if replacing so that the new one lasts a lot longer.
Windscreen refurbs can be a bigger job than expected...sometimes the screws corrode into the frame, and sometimes the existing acrylic/polycarb has been glued in with strong stuff making it bloody hard just to get out. Dont know till u start. Can be a prick of a job depending how it was put in.

[lbger]

thanks heaps guys.. When i got the boat it was like it and its really annoying in the near dark before dawn. I haven't heard of this plexus stuff so will try and hopefully that does the trick.. I suspect as deckie is saying that the job will be a bit more of a pain in the butt than it looks as im sure there is some corrossion ect and the screws in the frame will be difficult. Its curved as well so i cant just get a bit cut and chuck it back in... SIGH...
Cheers Guys our help is well appreciated!
Nathan.

[Cheech]

I replaced my windscreen myself last year. Sheet o 4mm perspex was $160.00. Just drill out the press studs and replace them after you finish.

With mine, just needed to remove the top, and then it slid out after removing the rubber locaters.

[deckie]

I replaced my windscreen myself last year. Sheet o 4mm perspex was $160.00. Just drill out the press studs and replace them after you finish.

With mine, just needed to remove the top, and then it slid out after removing the rubber locaters.
Hell you got lucky.
Did one 2 yrs ago that was curved, that "someone" had used s/s screws into an ally frame that you could barely make out for the corrosion..only to drill/smash them out using thousands of four letter words...only to find the old perspex had been glued in with something industrial strength. Not Happy Jan...seemed like such a simple journey i set out on, then turned into a nightmare.

[Shark Poker]

Ibger,
What type of boat and type of windscreen is it? Can you post a photo?
Pauly

[FishHunter]

Acrylic /perspex is actually quite UV stable...50% of the average windscreens that are "crazed" or "hazy" has come from using a product on it, or the one few consider, using a rag to clean..some of the rags we use to clean/polish are fairly abrasive to acrylics/polcarb....ie., we kill with kindness. May have been you or previous owner. The other 50% is more than likely from not rinsing salt off which becomes abrasive. i.e. lack of kindness. In general very few will admit to either causing the premature downfall. Age is always a distinct possibility coz nothing lasts forever in a harsh environment. Might sound funny but buffetting by the wind doesnt help coz its a bit more flexible than something like glass and flexes on a minute scale..over time that can cause it to lose a fair bit of its transparency too...aging. Never rub the surface with anything and will last a lot longer.
Try not to use anything other than either a specialist product specifically for acrylic (and i wouldnt trust any that simply mention acrylic as one use for it), or a very very weak detergent mix in water at most..a detergent that doesnt have all sorts of additives in it like ammonia. If u need proof of this spot something like windex in an out of the way corner of the screen, wait 6 months then have a look at it.
Havent bothered trying "plexus" or anything similar coz never found a need, getting great rep[orts though so might give it a try. I just put new stuff in maybe once every 7-10yrs. Lexan/Polyc is a fraction more abrasive resistant but probably no more UV tolerant than perspex/acrylic which is actually a good all round product for harsh marine environments.
So dont assume its just the sun doing the nasty on it...have a closer look at what YOU might be doing , especially if replacing so that the new one lasts a lot longer.
Windscreen refurbs can be a bigger job than expected...sometimes the screws corrode into the frame, and sometimes the existing acrylic/polycarb has been glued in with strong stuff making it bloody hard just to get out. Dont know till u start. Can be a prick of a job depending how it was put in.

I wish my windscreen could read this. I never touched the new panels with anything except boat wash till they were badly crazed. They are still pretty scratch free and clear except for the crazing. There is even a narrow unblemished strip along the top where the sun dont shine.
On the other hand the 32 year old polycarbonate has come up pretty good with meguiers plastx and some other plastic cleaners I have used. I will take a pic next week

[nathank]

Hell you got lucky.
Did one 2 yrs ago that was curved, that "someone" had used s/s screws into an ally frame that you could barely make out for the corrosion..only to drill/smash them out using thousands of four letter words...only to find the old perspex had been glued in with something industrial strength. Not Happy Jan...seemed like such a simple journey i set out on, then turned into a nightmare.

Well i have tried the plexus to no avail and this weekend have decided to take out the windscreen myself.. i had to unscrew the frame and with quite a few four letter words got the windscreen out.. The drama was the top part of the frame is stuck on solid like it is glued with something that may as well be wielded in.. Have sent an email to holland plastics regarding getting the piece of polycarbonite or acrylic.. Now i have to get the frame for the top bit as well, and rivet all the press studs in again.. from experience does anyone know the best place to get this organised, ive got fairly limited skills in this area (being a chef and working in an office will do that to you)
Cheers for the advice so far and any help would be appreciated.
Nathan. (lbger is my other username)

[ozscott]

That 3M product is good. But really its hard to get too much out of them once they are badly gone. I recommend toughened glass specifically for boats or Lexen a distant second - just from my own limited experience.

http://gjames.com/professional/glass-resources/transport

Cheers

[Gon Fishun]

That 3M product is good. But really its hard to get too much out of them once they are badly gone. I recommend toughened glass specifically for boats or Lexen a distant second - just from my own limited experience.

http://gjames.com/professional/glass-resources/transport

Cheers

Not to sure if G James deal direct to the public. I buy windows from them but have a CBD account.
I know National Glass do not deal direct to the public, where i buy all my toughened glass.
I can supply 4mm clear toughened, square or rectangle ( your sizes) at $95 square metre, mates rates, pick up from Woodford Qld. Polycarb is on a par with price and in some places dearer.

[ozscott]

I have bought directly from GJames in the past from their Riverview branch.

Cheers
PS. Dont know if they sell armour plate to the public though.

[Shark Poker]

The frames are not likely to suit toughened glass.
I asked for a photo and/or better description back in Feb when this thread was first raised.
My workshop is in up Brissy but PM me if you would like to get it sorted out properly, asap.

[Gon Fishun]

The frames are not likely to suit toughened glass.
I asked for a photo and/or better description back in Feb when this thread was first raised.
My workshop is in up Brissy but PM me if you would like to get it sorted out properly, asap.

Gotta think outside the square.

[Shark Poker]

Hey Gon,
There are no squares in a boat windscreen.
Whats the go with the screen in your photo?

[Gon Fishun]

Hey Gon,
There are no squares in a boat windscreen.
Whats the go with the screen in your photo?
Hey FB.
My screen is original curved ally with perspex that I replaced 2 years ago. It is now stuffed and I will replace it with glass, either laminated or toughened. I have a thing about dirty and or obscured windscreens especially in boats and at night time.
In regards to the square, it was not directed at a square windscreen, although it is possible with a bit of fiddling. With the frames you can silicone glass in or find a vinyl wedge/ channel to suit. What sort of workshop do you have?
Sorry, the screen in the pic is standard with a bimini folded that sits 8 inches above so you can stand and look between.
Cheers.

[nathank]

im not to sure whether this pic will be any help but the screen is 1440 by 495 the strip along the top is the bit i cant get off, i can take ome further pics when it stops raining :) Hey Gon im keen to get it done for sure and am starting to think its a bit hard and dont want to go buying all ths stuff to bugger it up...

[nathank]

funny how the pic makes it look fine but its terrible lol, can see a thing out of it in the morning..

[Giffo65]

Nathan

I had the windscreen and ally frames replaced in my 5.7 Explorer for $600.The frames were shagged as the stainless screws had corroded in and the screen was silicone in, what a mess. Bluewater windscreens at Yatala did the job, very happy with it. He also replaced the cab windows for $200 in a tinted version and replaced the cracked rubber seals.

[Gon Fishun]

im not to sure whether this pic will be any help but the screen is 1440 by 495 the strip along the top is the bit i cant get off, i can take ome further pics when it stops raining :) Hey Gon im keen to get it done for sure and am starting to think its a bit hard and dont want to go buying all ths stuff to bugger it up...

By the looks of that pic it is curved and not rectangle. Your best bet would be to source the mob that builds the boat screens. They have been mentioned on here and recommended from memory.
Below is copy of a post from Jabba, a member from here. It might help you out a bit.

" Quote. Jabba,

Having done a few windscreens for customers over the years I wondered whether there was a better alternative to acrylic sheet (Perspex being one brand of acrylic).

I spoke to my sister who was an engineer for GE Plastics here in Melbourne for 20 yrs. Plastics, how to mould it, how to make it, how to bake it, bend it, fold it, cut it, eat it and everything else known to man about the stuff, in particular Lexan, was her bag.

I asked about using Lexan (just a brand name for polycarbonate sheet) for boat windscreens as it bends more easily through tight radiuses etc and seemed the logical choice.

After some technical jargon relating to polycarb and acrylic she said stick with acrylic as the best option. Reason being was that the UV stabilisers in polycarb are not as good as acrylic and the scratch resistant coating on polycarb is not as good as acrylic.

Final word was that acrylic is more durable in the long term than polycarb and more suited to boat windscreens.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the radius on your screen wouldn't require heat bending.
Unquote"

[nathank]

from everything i have read and researched im thinking the same that acrylic is a far better option.. My screen wouldnt need bending at all i dont think as the curve in it wouldnt be more than a few inches, giffo might be a silly question, did that include the windscreen or just the fit out? I might give them a ring tomorrow. cheers for all the help so far

[Giffo65]

Nathan

It was, drop boat off with old windscreen, pick boat up with flash new clear one and new frames all fitted. Sometimes it ain't worth stuffing around with yourself.

[nathank]

giffo... i hear ya mate.. think that this is the way to go for sure... how ong did it take?

[Shark Poker]

Yes you should call Bluewater Windscreens at Yatala 3382 7883
Or Sailfish Marine Windows (Tingalpa) 3890 7141 or email paul@boatwindscreens.com
It is a very basic job for a pro so either of us can take care of that for you.

[lbger]

ive got a quote for the acrilyc and its 66 dollars cut to size.. hmmmm

[lbger]

Its getting dropped off to Jeff in the morning, even says as busy as they are he will have it done before the weekend for me. Cheers for the advice guys..

Nathank.

[lbger]

well.. i picked the boat up this morning off Jeff.. He gave me a quote to replace the windscreen but the bimini had a bit of a dodgy arrangement and had an ugly looking bracket from the side window to the windscreen to accommodate it. Anyway.. without charging me an extra cent he reshaped the sides put in new screens and did an awesome job on the front screen as well.. cant recommend them enough.. super super happy with the result!!!!!!!

Nathank.

Bluewater Windscreens at Yatala 3382 7883