Boat Windshield protector

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quantase

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Hi all. I'm planning to trailer my GW235 several hundred miles via highway. I have heard some people have had rocks/other debris fly up and hit their boat's windshield and cracking it. Has anyone DIY'd a boat windshield cover while trailering their boat? I want to avoid any potential windshield cracks or gelcoat dings if possible. I'm not really interested in obtaining a full custom boat cover.

Thanks
 
Do you have bow and cockpit covers? Is it a normal, full cockpit cover where it covers the windshield... or is it a shorty where it doesn't cover the glass?
 
I've been driving for over 30 years and probably a million + miles. I have only cracked one windshield on a car. Stay away from dump trucks!
I've towed 3 boats thousands of miles and no issues with them either.
That said, for a quick solution, I would consider some closed cell packing foam about ¼" thick and some high quality, wide duct tape to hold it down on the perimeter.
I wouldn't sweat the gel coat. Extremely rare to damage it trailering and an easy fix if you do.
 
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The bow covers I have do not cover the windshield.

Good idea about the foam. Where would you attach the duct tape to the windshield or piping dot it does fly off or the adhesive from the duct tape will not gum up the window/ piping?

Thanks.
 
quantase said:
The bow covers I have do not cover the windshield.
Click to expand...
Some manufacturers skimp out on the little bit of material... that's too bad GW is one of them! :confused:

That said, I would just go without it. As mentioned above, trailering without any cover is a very normal occurence and a windshield issue is extremely EXTREMELY rare. In all the times I've trailered without... and all of the customers I know about for 30+ years... never happened.

But... use hull preservation tape - no sticky residue - for whatever protection material you want to use.
 
quantase said:
The bow covers I have do not cover the windshield.

Good idea about the foam. Where would you attach the duct tape to the windshield or piping dot it does fly off or the adhesive from the duct tape will not gum up the window/ piping?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Unless it is really hot or you leave the tape on for days, I wouldnt think too much goo will transfer to your structure. If it does, a little paint prep solvent will easily remove it.
If it were me, I'd just protect the front flat areas with the foam or plastic and tape to the window frame - maybe go lower to the gel coat at the bottom to prevent lift.
If you are worried about the hardtop piping, I would consider a role of clear carpet protector. It's cheap, sticks well, removes easily, and leaves no residue.
 
Hull preservation tape. That's a new one to me. I need to get some.
Thanks Dennis!
 
Thanks for the tips. I never heard of the hull preservation tape, but it looks like it will do the trick!
 
Cardboard or foam cut to fit the front of the windshield.

Pallet/stretch wrap around the windshield and frame to hold the cardboard/foam in place.

Could even do a few wraps of paracord, duct tape, etc. over the wrap.
 
I can see how that would work for a CC, but do tell how that works for a WA or DC?
 
I think it would work, might just take more material and extra effort.
 
Does the hull preservation tape leave any sticky adhesive to glass? I want to avoid a sticky mess on the windshield. I am thinking on a dual console windshield the tape may have to be attached to the back of the windshield when taping the foam or cardboard on the front of the windshield.
 
I'll add this as a great material option. Corrugated plastic. It looks like cardboard, but is plastic. It is used for outdoor signs staked into the ground. Tape would easily stick to it and it doesn't absorb water.
According to what I've read, one of the great benefiys of HPT is that it leaves no residue to clean up. I'm sure Dennis knows 1st hand.
 
quantase said:
Does the hull preservation tape leave any sticky adhesive to glass? I want to avoid a sticky mess on the windshield. I am thinking on a dual console windshield the tape may have to be attached to the back of the windshield when taping the foam or cardboard on the front of the windshield.
Click to expand...
Already answered that above, along with where the tape goes :)

As mentioned a couple times... and evidenced by many, many boaters... you really can go without any cover. It's done ALL the time.

But... here's a better long term solution for you than what we're discussing..

-- Extend the existing cockpit cover to go to the base of the windshield and add snaps along the base.
or
-- Have a piece of canvas sewn to cover the windshield and side windshield area. And, again, you would just need to add the snaps along the base of the windshield.
 
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