windshield restoration

270win

Well-Known Member
Jul 12, 2009
1,019
Atlanta, GA
Boat Info
1995 Sea Ray 330 SunDancer
Engines
7.4 V Drives
i'm redoing my 1990 220cc and I'm thinking about the windshield framing. It's in good shape but the paint is showing some wear as the boat spent a few years in salt water. I'm considering removing it and having it painted or powder coated. Anyone done this or have any advice on what the best way to clean and restore it is? I can just sand blast and paint it. fwiw- we will probably take it to the beach some as well so it may see more salt...so preservation is also important.
 
I did mine about 18 months ago. It's not a project for the faint of heart. My frame broke down to 28 pieces. I had it powder coated for just shy of $1k! Plus, one small piece got lost & I had to Pay to have a new one fabricated. The best advice that I can give you is to make sure and mask off the cylindrical connections where the vertical sections join. The powder coater of mine didn't & it was an MF'er to machine it out!!


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Todd
 
I was thinking about powder coat too. I may wait until I get into next winter's projects on the boat. It's been a busy winter already...

Mine also has a lot of plastic trim that hides wiring. Any idea where to get new plastic for that? It's in decent shape but I see that it's a matter of time...
 
I got my windshield powder coated and I put new plastic trimming from Taylor.

After some 4 years I can say I’m not very happy with the new coating. Areas directly in the sun have faded and areas usually covered by canvas are now brighter than the rest… moreover some of the typical aluminium oxide corrosion is showing up…

I remember somebody on this board who decided to go for just some deep polishing. I wonder what the result has been.
 
I would imagine polishing or cleaning the aluminum would be the best way to go. I'll be pulling mine apart soon and i'm going to hit it with some super fine steel wool and a polishing wheel and compound. Very time consuming but the end results are beautiful.

Any type of paint or powder coat will fade like Pietro said.
 
I wonder if ceramic coat would be better. I have the headers on our classic cars done in ceramic chrome (silver) and they look like new after thousands of miles.
 
Or just stripping them and keeping them polished...probably the best best. And on a fresh water lake they probably will only need the polishing wheel annually.

Good to know that I can still get the plastic trim from Taylor!!!
 
If you have them powder coated, you have to specify the powder with UV protectant.

I can't imagine that polished aluminum would hold up long in a salt environment.
 
Yeah, I'm sure bare aluminum would be a pain in salt too. I'm still curious about ceramic coating...it'll take high temps but I wonder if UV will fade it?
 
You might consider having it powder coated with the color you want then have them do a Clear Coat UV, it will work just like the clear coat on your car a neighbor has several custom Harleys done this way hasn't had any fading in 4 years.
 
My guy did a lot of prep work. He used a special primer (non-zinc?). I know he powder coated and then did a clear coat. It's only been a season and a half but it still looks & shines like new!
I think it really comes down to the prep work.
If you buff the paint off of the frame, how do you protect it from the elements?


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Todd
 
My guy did a lot of prep work. He used a special primer (non-zinc?). I know he powder coated and then did a clear coat. It's only been a season and a half but it still looks & shines like new!
I think it really comes down to the prep work.
If you buff the paint off of the frame, how do you protect it from the elements?


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Todd

+100

It all comes down to PREP work you can have a $30,000 paint job done with 10-20 coats of color 10 coats of clear with a poor prep job it'll look like a $400.00 Maaco paint.
To save some money talk to the folks doing the powder coating, buy a cheap pedestal grinder at HF and prep as much of it as you can the way the shop wants it done. Be sure to mark all areas that you want to protect before taking them in for powder coating.
 
Do you happen to have the number for the plastic trim from Taylor?
 

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