walk-through windshield smashed

[seymoc1]

Well, just in case anyone is replacing the latches on the walkthrough windshield BE CAREFUL. I lost one of mine in some rough weather and when replacing the new screw must have been marginally larger. Once I tightened it down I heard a brief crunch followed by a total shattering of the walkthrough windshield. This happened with the boat hooked up in the drive-way about to head out for a day on the lake, so I wasn't going to let it ruin my trip.

Now. I cannot find anyone to replace the glass. Water Bonnet will not email me back and when I call I'm told the parts guy (yes singular as in ONE) is out. My local glass shop that all the boat guys recommended is out of business. I'm figuring that I'm not the first person to shatter a piece of glass on a boat. Anyone got any ideas? I thought about getting a piece of glass cut but found out quickly you cannot but tempered glass. I'm told I'll have to have the glass cut to fit and then tempered.

The boat is a 2000 21V.


Sorry for the long post. Let me know if you have any suggestions.


--chris

[Mike Linn]

I had to replace a front window panel in my old boat. As you are finding, it is not a quick fix. I contacted a local glass shop and was told to cut a cardboard template that fit in the frame and bring it in. They cut the glass to my template then tempered it. I drilled out the rivot, soaped up the rubber trim and carefully reinstalled the glass. Be careful not to oversize the glass or the new rivot will shatter your new glass. It is not an easy job but can be done. Good luck.

[seymoc1]

Thanks Mike!

When you went to the glass shop did you have to know the thickness of the glass? I kept a couple pieces hoping they would be able to tell. I'll make the cardboard cutout but now I have to find a local glass shop. It seems most of the shops around here work out of their house and apparently have all the work they want.


Thanks for the quick response.

[Mike Linn]

yes, I did bring some pieces in for thickness. Dont forget the soap. My glass was wider at the bottom which made it a pain to reinstall, but it was much cheaper than taking my boat to the dealer.

[Domsz06]

your glass that they cut could have been old. glass is a semiliquid, so as the glass gets old, it moves from the top to the bottom. Go to an old house sometime and you can see this. Not sure if that was your case, and I know this is just useless knowledge, just felt like posting.

Dom

[motoxno53]

Glass

Did you get this fixed? I broke mine as well and my fried owns a Glass shop and He accedentaly oredrd two so i have an extra...Temperd and all

[Cheeky]

Still have that extra center section?

[motoxno53]

glass

yes i still have that glass....

[Cheeky]

Can you give me the dimensions? This will need to go on a 2001 21V so I am not sure if these boats all had the same dimensions.

How much do you want for the glass?

[motoxno53]

glass

the glass it self is 24x24 its the standard movable front window

[Cheeky]

Sorry for the questions, but did you have to cut that down after getting the glass? My window measures about 19" at the top and 18" at the bottom and about 20" tall. I am not sure how this works in replacing the window.

[motoxno53]

glass

im sorry mine is 22x22 and if yours is not a squair pice of glass then this will not work for you. I would go to a local glass shop and have them get you one it will be a whole lot cheaper then the boat shop. just make shure that they temper it.

[Cheeky]

Thanks for all your help.

BTW, are you aware of any issues using auto glass (laminate) versus tempered?

[raythompson]

I would go with tempered as it will probably be cheaper than laminated.

You want to eliminate the sharp knife like pieces if the glass breaks. Tempered will break into little chunks that will not slice and dice (much). Laminated is generally tempered also with the lamination keeping the pieces intact into large chunks.

[clinton]

I know this is an old post but just an FYI, laminated glass is NOT generally tempered. I put lami in my old Sea Ray and it worked great.