23ft Sceptre Windshield Replacement

[billfisher]

I am looking to replace or refinish the entire windshield frame on a 1978 23ft Sceptre, as well as replace the glass with a darker tint. Has anyone found any fabricator's that will supply a new anodized frame, or have any sugesstions on how to bring mine back to pristine condition?

[Dave Hirshberg]

Lou,
I did mine and boy was it a job. First I had new window glass made from lexan. Big Mistake!! within a year the stuff was foggy and unclear thanks to there being no UV inhibitors in the stuff. Find someone that will cut you safety glass. I had a quote from a glass shop of 10.50 a square foot. My frame was pitted and corroded so I had it sandblasted then took it to a shop that powdercoats lawn chairs. I used a silver powder coat ( another mistake) It looked great when I had it done but the silver started to dull in a year and wouldn't polish up or hold wax. I think I would powder coat again but I'd use a more durable color.The powdercoating was about $150 and the Lexan was $200 or so Plus the $75 to sand blast. To get it perfect you'll have to sand blast and fill pitts then prime and paint with awl-grip. Theres 11 peices to the frame not counting the window hardware. I'll bet you'd spend $1500 + to duplicate that windsheild frame today. Any way you do it , it isn't easy or cheap.
Good Luck
Dave

[Dave Hirshberg]

Lou,
I did mine and boy was it a job. First I had new window glass made from lexan. Big Mistake!! within a year the stuff was foggy and unclear thanks to there being no UV inhibitors in the stuff. Find someone that will cut you safety glass. I had a quote from a glass shop of 10.50 a square foot. My frame was pitted and corroded so I had it sandblasted then took it to a shop that powdercoats lawn chairs. I used a silver powder coat ( another mistake) It looked great when I had it done but the silver started to dull in a year and wouldn't polish up or hold wax. I think I would powder coat again but I'd use a more durable color.The powdercoating was about $150 and the Lexan was $200 or so Plus the $75 to sand blast. To get it perfect you'll have to sand blast and fill pitts then prime and p

[billfisher]

Thanks Dave, I figured it wasn't an easy task. I'm glad you mentioned the powdercoat, I was talking to a local guy that does that, but now I'm not so sure if thats the way to go. I would even consider a new style frame and modify the top deck to accept it if I could find something that came close to matching these old frames. I do like the Euro style with the side opening vents and fixed glass front windows. Oh well, I'll keep looking?

Thanks again

[abl1111]

Lou,

I am in a similar situation. It is about $1800 to replace w/ new glass ( a quote from the original manufacturer, American Marine in Florida.

I thought about the powder coat thing, but it's a hell of a lot of work to disassemble, I think. And, then to fill all the pits w/ a filler and then sand blast and powder coat... I'd rather bite the bullet and replace or just clean it up.

I am going to polish it up w/ a product called FLITZ, to the best she can look ( I expect her to dull again quick ). As for the pitting, I have some, it's cosmetic not structural. I have so much $$$ going out on my restoration project that this is one area that I am going to wait on.

As for glass replacement, I am going to go the safety /tempered glass route as opposed to lexan or plexi. No price on this yet, but I'm sure it'll be a few hundred bucks. As for the darker glass, I know it's an opinion thing, but at night, all your gauges and lights might reflect off the dark window, making a little tougher to see.

- Alan

[Dave Hirshberg]

Lou and Abl,
American Marine will sell you the rubber gasket material too. I bought 100 ft at .38 a foot and had a bunch left over. You don't have to remove the glass to replace it and it makes a big difference in appearance. If you have the origional glass in the frame its tough to get out without cracking it.
dave

[abl1111]

70's

Thx, I already bought the gasketing from American for when I replace the windows. I have heard a few different spec's of the glass; some guys say that the sides originally are supposed to be plexi, others say glass. I plan on replacing w/ glass.

Any estimates on the price of glass ? The staboard and port windshields are glass now, so I will leave them, however, the sides and window hatch are plastic - so I want to replace them...

By the way, someone from the board, awhile ago, his name was Mark from NY gave me a set of new, smoked glass for my boat. At the time, I did not know it was smoked, and some of the pcs he said might not fit cause he measured wrong. But, I am sure that many of the pcs will fit.

I do not want smoked glass and therefore will re-give these to anyone who wants to see if they have use for them.

-alan

[Dave Hirshberg]

I sold my 23 before I got the chance to replace the 1yr old lexan(which fogged almost instantly) with glass but a glass shop told me that safety glass was 10.50 per sq ft and an additional charge of $15.00 per peice on irregular( non rectangular) peices. I figured it was roughly $400.00 to have the glass cut for all paynes in the windsheild.
As far as weather the origionals were glass or plexi. My 23 Sceptre was glass on the front and plexi on the sides. My 20 is all glass and all origional as far as I can tell.