Looking for windshield for ’80 Nautique

Alan has posted it several times regarding the flat (tempered) glass that is curved by the frame during the install. As much as it's hard to believe, I believe him. He did it on his boat!!

79nautique wrote: have you tried nautifanatic? aka paul carpenter? think I got the nickname correct.

I thought nautifanatic was a Hollywood alias!



Paul's is nautiquefanatic

Well sorry I won't post the picture of the one I have because I'm not taking it off of the bar it's mounted to but I believe there is a very slight arc to the glass, guess I would start with getting the frame straightened out first while you waiting for a donor boat to show up somewhere, have you tried nautifanatic? aka paul carpenter? think I got the nickname correct.

I know the glass in the 79 was tempered, just doesn't seem right to me that it would be flat and have to been bent during install. glass isn't very ductile at all. Now with the newer stuff it's wouldn't surprise me that it's actually plastic and not tempered glass, Usually there is a little logo stating it's tempered in one corner of the glass, if there isn't then I would venture to say it's plastic then.

your not going to bend tempered glass, you can polycarbon and lexan but real glass not so sure. I do know that the glass is heated and layed on a special frame to cool to create the bend/arc in an automotive application but that is a laminated glass application too, which I'm sure this isn't.

Also it's going to be hard to get that extrusion straight again, better off finding a used one from Paul or a bone yard.

Thanks for the tips. I wonder if I could find a template for the window somewhere. Like a blueprint to give to the local glass company.

epholler wrote: Marine Glass Specialties was going to be pretty expensive and the window has a slight curve to it, so getting a new one made is just as expensive. We thought about putting a '79 windshield on it. Kind of like the lower vents. We'd have to extend the black paint on the dashboard, but that wouldn't be too hard.

Having a machine shop straighten it would be much cheaper than buying new!

Id be leary of putting a '79 windshield on that boat. Since its split, none of the mounting holes will line up. You also may end up with black dash sticking out forward of the windshield at the edges. If you do go that route, theres no need to extend the black backwards- theres no reason for it to line up with the windshield (the newer boats dont). Thats not paint anyways- its gel coat.

A machine shop should be able to straighten the frame, and a glass shop can cut you the glass. Id have it tempered as well. That would be the most economical solution- these things arent cheap!

During a recent storm the water came up in the canal and pushed the boat up into the ceiling of the boathouse shattering the windshield and bending the frame on our 1980 Nautique. Looking for a replacement for the whole assembly. I'm located in western New York (Buffalo area).

New to the forum, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks