Windshield Needed for 16' 1965 Starcraft

[imported_FishFry]

First, let me say that I'm excited to know that there is a forum out there for owners of these old workhorses. This '65 Starcraft was my Dad's first boat when I was a kid. I learned to ski behind the Evinrude 40. We fished many ESLO derbies in it on Lake Ontario. The thing can take 6 ft. waves over the bow and still keep the lines in the water. The local tackle shops liked to tell stories of the 'idiots out there in a little white 16 footer'.

Anyways, my dad has moved onto bigger, prettier rigs, and he sold this one to my uncle and grandpa many years ago. Fast forward to 2006 and I rescued her from my uncle who unfortunately had her in the yard during a wicked snowstorm a few years ago. The canvas and windshield took the brunt of the storm. Now I'm trying to find a way to repair or replace the windshield.

I've read the forums here and on fiberglassics.com on making your own. Honestly, I'm not sure I can do it. First I need to tear the old frame off to see if I can unbend it. I'm not sure how it is connected. I took all the screws off the frame parts and the top corners come out, but the glass is still very tight into the top frame. I can't get it to budge so far.

A lot of places say to contact your local glass/plastic shop, etc. However, I'm hoping someone might have a salvage frame and windshield from a Starcraft or even a different boat that would work (even a split windshield), The width of the windshield is 69" from tip to tip, and 18" tall, although I'd love something taller. My biggest issue is the curvature of the deck. If you have something that would fit the bill, let me know. Otherwise, any advice from the Starcraft community is much appreciated.

Thanks,
Kris

 

[Always Broke]

Re: Windshield Needed for 16' 1965 Starcraft

You may want to try searching the marine salvage yards on the web. If your lucky you may find a match or something close enough to work.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Windshield Needed for 16' 1965 Starcraft

Nice boat!
Try looking on eBay, I found one to work on my last Starcraft Holiday, that was a 65 also.
The one I found wasn't an exact replacement, but it looked right for the boat, the bubble or curve was a bit different and it wrapped around a bit further. It was made for an older wood runabout, probably a Chris Craft or Donzi mahogany boat. It was so close in size that it covered all but the two most rearward holes from the original windshield.
Take a look at something like eBay item 320009174237. Not mine, but I've bought other items off that seller with good results. I've seen different styles pop from time to time but you have to keep watching. By your pics, the hardest thing to match on yours is the concave shaped lower edge. Mine was flat across the bow, and the bottom of the windshield matched perfectly.

To be honest though, if I were to do it again, and on a boat I was going to use, I'd have replaced mine with a more modern flat glass frame and done away with the plastic windshield. Glass holds up better, don't scratch, and is easier to see through. I would have matched up a 5 piece flat panel set up off of another boat, it would have been cheaper and more functional. The acrylic windshields tend to crack with age, and scratch way too easy, especially in saltwater. With glass you can also run a windshield wiper.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Windshield Needed for 16' 1965 Starcraft

The curvature of the deck may not be as big an issue as you think it is. I have your EXACT same boat and had that same horrible windshield. I too toyed with ways to repair or recreate it. I ended up buying a standard class windshield on eBay and figured I would have to fabricate something under it to deal with the curveature of the deck. As luck would have it when it arrived I layed it up on the deck and just by bowing it out a little bit it conformed almost perfectly. I drove a couple screws in and it got even better. Check out my pics to see what I did. You should be able to find something similar on eBay or at any marine salvage yard.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Windshield Needed for 16' 1965 Starcraft

I had considered the same type of retrofit on my old boat, but opted for the more original looking curved lexan shield at the time, but like ezmobee did, the flat panel windshield would have been a better choice as far as durability and cost. I've actually saved a few of those style windshields off of parts boat that I've salvaged for future projects.
They are quite a bit heavier than lexan though.

 

[imported_FishFry]

Re: Windshield Needed for 16' 1965 Starcraft

Thanks for your responses everyone. I sure got busy using this boat over the summer and totally forgot to check back into the forum. ezmobee, what you did was exactly what I had in mind. I think your retrofit serves the purpose well and looks great. I was wondering where the supports for a split windshield could go, and now I see what you've done. I'll have a renewed search on ebay for something similar now.