flybridge "venturi" windscreens

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:56 am

If anyone is interested I located a sheet of the original color plexiglass for the venturi type windscreens on the flybridge. Although a little hard to find, I beieve it is still being made , so more is available. I made a set for my boat and doug's boat and still have enough for another set(two pieces). If anyone is interested , I would be willing to make another set for either a convertable or sportfish and sell them for $100.00 a side, plus shipping. I need to use your old ones for a pattern, just to make sure they fit, since there is a difference between the two styles of boats, and I'm not sure if there's a difference in the older models. When I'm finished with them , they have the holes drilled in them and the visible edge is highly polished , just like the originals. Also, there are short round clear plexi stand-offs to support the windscreen that on my boat and Doug's are all checked badly. I am making those also for my boat but don't know yet what the cost will be , as I don't know how much time I'll have to spend machining them up.Will keep you guys posted if there's any interest. Frank Price

photo finish · Post by **photo finish** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 4:30 am

Frank, I might be interrested as mine is looking pretty worn.Is it the greenish color or smoke? Tim Stamm Photo Finish 1981 33' Bertram FBC

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 4:52 am

Tim, It's the green tint. I would call it a "coke bottle tint" Frank Price

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 5:44 am

P.S. Guys, When I bought my boat it had a crack in one of these I called around, nobody was making them. Last season the crack turned into a break so I had to do something. It wasn't easy to find the right tint, probably because there isn't a great demand for it so I always wonder how long it will be available at all...So if anyone wants a set, I'd consider getting more plexi and making a run of them but as they say on TV, "this offer won't last long, so hurry" . You get the idea... Frank Price

HRay · Post by **HRay** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 3:36 pm

Hey Doug I've got my windscreen frame and bridge rail off and to the powder coater. . Curious how did your green plexi perform over the years? Was thinking light green Lexan as easier to cut n drill Without possible cracking during the process. Thanks. Hector

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Sat Mar 24, 2018 6:36 am

Hector, The plexi has held up pretty well. I guess it's been 12 years now, time flies. Lexan will probably last a bit longer and as you say, a little easier to drill but one of the things I don't like about lexan is the hard coating on it, it just can't be polished once it scratches. Plus it's a bit more flexible which may or may not be a problem in this case. I was also being a bit picky at the time , wanting the edges to polish to a nice gloss and the lexan also doesn't do that as well. You can buy drill bits made just for drilling plexi and they are less likely to crack it. Mcmaster -carr has them. Over all I would probably do the same thing again.

HRay · Post by **HRay** » Sat Mar 24, 2018 5:54 pm

Frank seems you've had agood experience with green Plexi so some more to think about. Seems I can't have the best of both a green coke bottle poly. Poly is clear and light or dark grey options. I'd really like to keep the original green tint look. Can you expand on what was involved to remake the plexi stand-offs? Thanks. Hector

HRay · Post by **HRay** » Sun Mar 25, 2018 2:20 am

Frank seems you've had agood experience with green Plexi so some more to think about. Seems I can't have the best of both a green coke bottle poly. Poly is clear and light or dark grey options. I'd really like to keep the original green tint look. Can you expand on what was involved to remake the plexi stand-offs? Thanks. Hector

HRay · Post by **HRay** » Sun Mar 25, 2018 3:39 am

Frank seems you've had agood experience with green Plexi so some more to think about. Seems I can't have the best of both a green coke bottle poly. Poly is clear and light or dark grey options. I'd really like to keep the original green tint look. Can you expand on what was involved to remake the plexi stand-offs? Thanks. Hector

HRay · Post by **HRay** » Sun Mar 25, 2018 3:41 am

Frank seems you've had agood experience with green Plexi so some more to think about. Seems I can't have the best of both a green coke bottle poly. Poly is clear and light or dark grey options. I'd really like to keep the original green tint look. Can you expand on what was involved to remake the plexi stand-offs? Thanks. Hector

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Sun Mar 25, 2018 6:25 am

I did mine in Lexan last year, hired a glass guy and painted the support myself (with Frank's advice !). The glass guy kind of screwed on one side but you really can't notice the imperfection and he did it for $60/side. But I'll tell ya, it's like a whole new flybridge while you're at the helm because it's right there in your view. Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Sun Mar 25, 2018 6:27 am

Hector, To make the clear plexi standoffs you have to buy round plexi , I believe it measures 1" in this case. I got it from Mcmaster-carr. If you don't have access to a lathe you'll need to take it to a machine shop so they can cut it off at the correct lengths then bore them and I believe they are countersunk holes. Then when you get that done you can run a propane torch down the center to smooth out the bore, that will return them to transparent. The reason for torching them is because when you drill it , it gets a rough finish on the inside , so the torch essentially polishes it smooth without actually getting in there and doing it by hand. Sounds scary to do it but it makes all the difference in the look of the part.

HRay · Post by **HRay** » Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:49 am

Thanks for the input guys. Decided on clear polycarb. Glass guy will cut , drill and install with new seal in frame. One item I can save time on for something else. With new bridge enclosure done last fall this screen and rail Are a final touch. should brighten Her up quite a bit. HR

HRay · Post by **HRay** » Mon Apr 23, 2018 4:47 pm

Posting updated resources located in MA in case you want your Windscreen and Frame Rail redone. I used polycarb to replace plexi. Rich cut and drilled exact fit with new sealing strips in the frame like factory. Had the frame rail Powder coated gloss like new. SMI has a variety of color options. Vetrans Glass N Reading MA (Richard) and Powder Coating - SMI Product Finishers Amesbury MA (Trevor). http://smiproductfinishers.com/