windshield aluminium profile

Hi Guys, I'm building a small boat and I need help with what type of aluminium profile to use to make the windshield frame something that I can bend to get the shape of the boat

 

What material are you making the windshield of?

 

Hi Gonzo
Hi Gonzo, thanks for your reply. I'm thinking made out of glass, my preference choice or Polycarbonate Perspex sheets (acrylic sheet)
Thank you

 

I could be mistaken, but polycarbonate and acrylic are not the same afaik. I built my aluminum frame from 3/16” sheet (or so). It was shaped and then welded. The polycarbonate was attached with a few screws and black neoprene stripping 3/4” wide by 1/8” on the inside. I tried the outside, but the neoprene didn’t lay down perfectly and looked bad, so tore it and windshield out and moved to inside and allowed clearance for the welds.

I should add; the mockup and templating was done with 1/4” masonite.

Also, the polycarb is already scratched by the wiper. I will probably get it made as tempered glass and use the polycarb as a template someday.

 

I would stay away from the Acrylic as it tends to crack. Normally starting at the holes for through bolting
Lexan is a polycarb and is a much better product

 

I would have rounded the corners and used a rubber gasket.
There’s many profiles available, pretty easy to use too.

 

As said before, acrylic and polycarbonate are different materials. Polycarbonate is tougher, but will scratch more and can't be polished. Glass should be toughened and has the most longevity.

 

The other challenge with polycarbonate is the amount of movement with thermal expansion.It is important to use adequately large clearance holes for fastenings.The advice from gonzo regarding toughened glass is definitely worth following.

 

I was under the impression that the OP wanted a curve windshield but perhaps not. There are companies that will curve a window to a specification but it is very expensive for a
one-off boat. The OP would be better to check out some marinas or abandoned boats to see if he could find a curved window and frame off a boat that is destined for the junkyard

There is a lot of flex in a boat depending on its construction. Even when we used 1/4 inch Lexan we would overdrill the hole for vehicle flexing and heat, insert a 1/4 inch of rubber tubing, OD the size of the hole in the lexan and the ID about the size of the fastener. With a plastic washer under the head against the lexan.
If you are installing the lexan using a nut and bolt situation you can use nylocks and only snug up the fastener.

 

I want to thank you all. appreciate your help, thankyou all

 

Years ago I had a curved windshield done with polycarb. It was maybe 10 years ago and they cooked it in an oven. I think I paid $350. The curves add an element of difficulty that is not really great, but I wanted to restore to original.

 

Did you restore the boat in the picture? If so can you post some finished images?

 

I got it as far as you see and sold it due to time constraints. 1960 Carver Commander. It sat outside 7 years and this is the way it looked not even washed …..