Tring to find a Hold Open bracket for a walk-through window.

[Badger4life2410]

Hi guys, I've been out of touch for a while but I'm recently getting back into boating.

This weekend I took my Tracker boat out on the lake with my Niece. Three times the Walk through window was in the open position and violently blew shut. The third time it knocked my niece in the face hard. I've heard there is some sort of an after market bracket that is sold to hold these windows open, but I can't find it. I looked at local marine retailers.... nothing and the associates at the stores knew of nothing either. Can anybody point me in the right direction.

"My niece thanks you in advance... hopefully no more bloody noses!"

 

[MRS]

Go to lowes or home depot and buy a clamp to hold window open used one on my old boat that had a walk thru window for ten years no troubles cheap fix.

 

[MRS]

[No message]

 

[JASinIL2006]

We just shut the window when conditions are favorable for slamming. I’d be interested in seeing any elegant solutions to this...

 

[roscoe]

How about a table cloth clamp. commonly used for picnic tables.
Small and easy to store, $6 for 6 of them.





One of my boats had a 1" long plastic tab that mounted to the stationary section of the windshield.
To secure the center section open, just pivot the tab, open the center section al the way, and let gravity drop the plastic tab over the top of the center section. Similar to this window screen holder.




Or make your own with a strip of self adhesive velcro.

 

[roffey]

I have a snap on my walk through window. Was like that from the factory but I bet it would not take much to make one.

https://www.sailrite.com/All-Hardware/Fasteners-and-Hooks/Snaps-and-Fasteners

 

[roffey]

just adding a little info to my last post. My hold down is a strap that is screwed into the deck and snaps onto the windshield when folded back and will snap back on to the deck when not in use to prevent it from blowing around and scratching the deck. Ill see if I can get a pic and post it but the setup is really simple.

 

[Alumarine]

I use these but my walk through window is not that heavy.
I know your concern. I could've lost my fingers once operating a friends boat with a much bigger walk through window.
Luckily my hand was on top of the windshield and not on the side of the opening when it slammed shut.

https://www.iboats.com/shop/taylor-made-boat-windshield-door-catches.html

https://www.iboats.com/shop/windshield-ball-and-socket-legacy-igf-39688.html

 

[JASinIL2006]

One of my boats had a 1" long plastic tab that mounted to the stationary section of the windshield.
To secure the center section open, just pivot the tab, open the center section al the way, and let gravity drop the plastic tab over the top of the center section. Similar to this window screen holder.

I really like this idea; it seems much more secure than some kind of friction-based solution (e.g., snaps) and it would look right at home on the windshield frame. I think I'm going to try it.

 

[roffey]

seems kind of odd that the boat does not have one? Did it break off?

 

[TyeeMan]

I don't think I've ever seen a bracket or hold down for that center window. You would think the boat makers would have one, , I know I've had my walk through window come slamming shut due to the wind. Still surprised the glass didn't come right out of it.

 

[JimS123]

My 1971 Silverline had a center section latch. The last 3 boats bought by family members all had latches. I think all boats have them today. They are kind of a PITA when you're trying to open the window with 1 hand, but it sure keeps the window secure.

Anyway, TaylorMade makes the majority of the OEM windshields. My son's Crownline and my Searay have the same latch, but I could not find it in Taylor's catalog. They do have other products that should work fine. Check IBoats - google TAY1163 or TAY551.

 

[TyeeMan]

Oh yeah, there's latches to keep the window closed, but I haven't seen any latches or means of securing the window in the open position.

 

[JimS123]

Oh yeah, there's latches to keep the window closed, but I haven't seen any latches or means of securing the window in the open position.

Yes, dats what were talkin bout. Never saw a boat that didn't have latches to keep her closed.

I just took my cover off and snapped a pic of the current style of bracket. It locks in place, and requires a push of the knob to release it.

Once again, its a TaylorMade 'Shield, but probably a Perko or other part.

The male end is attached to the center windshield section.

 

[Badger4life2410]

Thanks for some really good ideas, I'll be trying out a few of these real soon. A lot of folks seem to be able to relate to the problem. I would of thought there was a simple gadget that was sold specifically for this purpose. I guess not. It's one of those things that's easy to slip your mind until conditions change. To open it you have to unlatch it but then it just rest nicely on the adjacent window. Up until that wind comes up out of no where. This is a 2018 boat.... nothing broke off, never had it.

 

[JimS123]

I would of thought there was a simple gadget that was sold specifically for this purpose. I guess not.......This is a 2018 boat.... nothing broke off, never had it.

I guess so. As I said before, we personally have owned 1971. 2018 and 2019 boats that had it on as original equipment. My pic is proof of that. What 2018 boat of yours didn't have it on? Shame on them. At the worst, a bungie cord should fix it with little expense.

 

[GA_Boater]

You guys amaze me. For a bunch of DIY'ers, duct tape was never mentioned!

Jim's standard equipment latch looks slick. I might recycle the duct tape. LOL

EDIT - Found Jim's stainless latch from Taco Metals - Part number F16-2900

 

[Badger4life2410]

The boat is a deep V Tracker.

 

[JimS123]

Yeah, I looked up the Taco part. Sixty bucks. That's why Tracker doesn't put them on.

Also looked at Tracker pics. The narrow curved windshield on a pedestal leaves little deck room for a bracket. A large black plastic clamp from Harbor Freight for 89 cents, (as previously mentioned), looks like a reasonable alternative

 

[GA_Boater]

Pricey for sure. I did see about 45 bucks, so my duct tape will see another day.