Windshield or no windshield, help me decide!

[jtrom]

I am restoring a 1959 15ft. Starcraft runabout. These small boats came with and without windshields from the factory depending on which model you bought. Mine came with one but it's yellowed and scratched. I could polish out some of the scratches but it will still be yellow with some deep scratches. A pet peeve of mine is looking through a hazy windshield on a boat. Should I just ditch it and go naked???? Another option is to "chop" it down so the top is lower than my face, but then what is point of the windshield?? This boat will be used for fishing quite a bit and will have a top speed of 35 mph. Any experienced opions out there??

[Frank Acampora]

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Well, here are two without windshields. The big one does 60 and the little one does 45. As you can see, the big one originally had a windscreen. If the water is a little rough, the spray in my face is a bit annoying in the little one. I am tempted to put a jetski windshield on the bigger one--just for looks. In the end it will become a personal decision as to what you think looks better and whether or not spray in the face becomes an issue. It is not really a big decision as you can either add or remove a windshield easily. And if you are removing one, there will only be about 6 small holes to fill and blend.

[rivermouse]

I am restoring a 1959 15ft. Starcraft runabout. These small boats came with and without windshields from the factory depending on which model you bought. Mine came with one but it's yellowed and scratched. I could polish out some of the scratches but it will still be yellow with some deep scratches. A pet peeve of mine is looking through a hazy windshield on a boat. Should I just ditch it and go naked???? Another option is to "chop" it down so the top is lower than my face, but then what is point of the windshield?? This boat will be used for fishing quite a bit and will have a top speed of 35 mph. Any experienced opions out there??

Because you already have the frame all you need is to replace the glass..why not a piece of lexan? My 60 crestliner had a yellow cracked windshield and I fited a piece of lexan to the frame. Really not that hard. You need a windshield to block the rain and wind.

[jtrom]

There really is no "frame". The windshield is a curved piece of plexiglass with a strip of vinyl moulding on top....

[roscoe]

Chopping it is not as bad of an idea as you might think.

Motorcycle windshields are often lower than your sight line (eyes). Yet they deflect the wind just fine, sending it up over your head for the most part. Then you could tint the windshield and give it a nice custom look.

[Davem3]

do you use this boat in the spring, fall or winter? since it gets way colder in your neck of the woods than in mine, i looked at jason's starcraft jet thread and video that he shot on black Friday, and said " wow, a windshield is a great idea" .

if however you are a fair weather boater, why bother.................

Wait a minute, we are all fanatics here on IBoats .............. ya, windshield is a GREAT idea

[Bubba1235]

There really is no "frame". The windshield is a curved piece of plexiglass with a strip of vinyl moulding on top....

If it is plexiglass then the "yellowing" is a surface effect because plexiglass made in the US really doesn't yellow. Washing with a good detergent multiple times may be enough to take the surface contamination off or you may have to polish it with a power polisher/buffer. If all else fails take the existing windshied to a plastics house and they can use it as a plug to vacuum form a replacement.

[m casey stock]

I say take it off....box it up real nice and safe.....send it to me so I can put it on my boat! LOL :O) but really, I do need a windshield if anyone has one.

[foodfisher]

Do 35mph in your car, stick your head out the window and see how long the fun lasts.

[jigngrub]

Do 35mph in your car, stick your head out the window and see how long the fun lasts.

I've never thought about it like that... can you imagine the horror of operating a big tiller without a windshield option!!!?

... and what about those motorcycle guys?... sheer agony!!!

[Titanium48]

Chopping it is not as bad of an idea as you might think.

Motorcycle windshields are often lower than your sight line (eyes). Yet they deflect the wind just fine, sending it up over your head for the most part. Then you could tint the windshield and give it a nice custom look.

I had a setup like that on my last boat. A previous owner had put grey-brown tinted plexiglass in the windshield so you couldn't see much through it. I think he usually sat up on the back of the seat instead of in the seat so it didn't bother him, but I was straining to see over it the first time I took it out. To solve that problem, I raised the seat a few inches so I could see over the windshield while sitting in the seat. At high speed I could feel some wind on the top of my head, but it was fairly calm around my face.

[BonairII]

... and what about those motorcycle guys?... sheer agony!!!

Wind in your face is fine.....it's the bugs/debris getting in your eyes that's the problem. That's why even in the states with no helmet is required....there is an eye protection requirement.
If the OP wears sunglasses while boating then having a windshield is just a matter of personal preference IMO.

I got caught on the lake in a heavy rainstorm over memorial day weekend. I'm glad I had a windshield to duck behind cause the rain was stinging my eyes and blinding me on the run back to shore.

[Cobra Jet Bob]

It's a matter of form vs function. do you want it to look pretty....or loose that trophy fish cause you tripped trying to climb over it ?