Re-Surface Fly Bridge Windshield

[mgernes]

Last week I removed the glass from the windshield of the flybridge of my 1973 53MY, following which I removed the windshield itself. I wanted to have in chromed, at least that was my plan until I learned that the platting companies in our Twin Cities area do not have tubs large enough for my windshield sections.

Has anyone else been down this path. The current windshield is so anidized that I want to do something to clean it up. I was told that I could have it buffed out professionally but that might require alot of future mantenence.

Any suggestions for platting companies or other ideas for finishing?

Thanks,

Marcus-Beach House

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Mine was painted (and failed) so I had it blasted and powder coated black. Looks like a million now! ws

 

[jim rosenthal]

I don't think you want this chromed. Why don't you have it painted with aluminum-colored Imron? I did this with the window frames and the exterior aluminum trim on my Hatteras, and it has held up fine.

 

[wndsr]

I had mine re-anodized and is holding up well-it was pricey however-$500.00 If I had to do over-I would go the powder coat route-although Alum doesnt seem to hold up any longer when powder coated but costs less.

 

[DCMY #92]

I painted my windshield frames. I sandblasted them, used an acid etching primer, then top coated with the metal flake component used in custom mixing acrylic auto enamel. You have to have the paint shop add dryer to this mixing component. The paint job lasted about 10 years in the Florida sun with regular washing. I suspect you could use the metal flake mix component for more durable urethan paints and get even better results. The key to the job holding up is the surface prep and using the right primer.

 

[SereneWarrior]

Looking at replacing the glass in my flybridge (1970 53MY) as it is bubbled, cracked and cloudy. Have a local glass place that can make the actual panes and even mount them in the frames. Would seem to be an easy enough to do, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to remove the frames from the flybridge. How does this get done? Or, if that's not the way to approach the job...How do I remove the glass?

 

[ThirdHatt]

Powdercoat or paint them, either will come out fine. I Awlgripped mine in 2007 and it still looks good last time I saw the boat a couple of months ago. I also tinted the glass to match the black frames and hide the delamination that started to creep on the edges of the glass.