Has anyone made an eisenglass "windshield"?

[zelone]

I'm thinking something to span between the windshield frame and the tower. I've been thinking about this for a while, mainly for wind protection in the colder months, but I think it would help in rain also. Discuss?

 

[Mainah]

I few folks have done that or made camper covers with windshields . I can't remember who. I would bet that one of tge admins will recall and chime in once they read this.

 

[bronze_10]

I think @Julian had one for his old boat!

 

[Julian]

Yup....My old SX230 has a complete camper cover (see link in signature) that included the windshield section that could be put up on its own, which was great for driving in the rain! I have some leftover vinyl from my porch screen project that I may try making a simple velco'd setup between the E-Series bimini and the windshield top.....still in the pondering phase for this.

 

[zelone]

I remember your old camper top setup, that definitely seemed functional. How was it to put up on short notice? Where did you store it? I'm thinking something that will be easy to put up, fast, and not take up much space when rolled or folded. I'm considering attempting to make it myself. Maybe use some type of rivets to put a canvas edge around a cut piece of eisenglass, and maybe use snaps, or industrial Velcro, or straps to hold it securely in place.

 

[Julian]

@zelone it was easy to put up....it had zippers at the top edge sewn into the bimini....so 3 zippers and each of 3 pieces was installed. If I thought it was going to rain, I would put it up, then roll it up in place and there were straps and snaps that would hold it rollup up and out of the way. I wasn't planning anything quite so elaborate this time. You can buy windshield snaps that remain on the windshield edge, and I'd attach the female side to the bottom edge of the vinyl. For the top I was simply thinking of a number of strong loops of velcro sewn into the vinyl edge that I could wrap around the bimini piping. If I make those right...they might also be able to be used to allow me to roll it up and use the velcro straps to hold it up out of the way when not in use....

 

[zelone]

That's what I'm thinking, something similar. What is the vinyl that you used for the porch? Is it rigid enough to not flop around when underway? I may make the windshield, then have an upholstery shop sew black canvas all around he edges to give it a cleaner look. Still considering ideas. Definitely don't want the boat tied up for weeks in a shop for this, so it will be DIY as much as possible.