Experience tinting windows = good/bad

[FootballFan]

thinking about tinting a large, sloping window on front of boat. No navigation through window.

Any experience with tinting?

Thanks

 

[Pierpressure1]

I had my front windows and rear sliding glass door tinted last year. It made a big difference over the summer keeping the boat cool and it looks good too.

 

[fwebster]

The skill of the installer is a critical element in your satisfaction. Pick someone with experience in that location for the installation.

Improving privacy would be an important factor for me. I run a couple of Sport Fishermen for friends, usually just to get the boats to a different location, and I've made a couple of trips with Capt. Rusty moving 650 flys. All of those boats are easy to handle, but after a long day on the water, I usually ask for a lay-along\side tie slip. I love those boats but the one big difference between them and my Sundancer is the loss of privacy on a side tie. Anybody walking down the dock figures they have the right to peer into the cabin thru the exposed front and side glass. So, I'd take a look at dark tint or even reflective tinting to increase your privacy, assuming you don't run the Marquis from an inside helm.

 

[FootballFan]

The skill of the installer is a critical element in your satisfaction. Pick someone with experience in that location for the installation.

Improving privacy would be an important factor for me. I run a couple of Sport Fishermen for friends, usually just to get the boats to a different location, and I've made a couple of trips with Capt. Rusty moving 650 flys. All of those boats are easy to handle, but after a long day on the water, I usually ask for a lay-along\side tie slip. I love those boats but the one big difference between them and my Sundancer is the loss of privacy on a side tie. Anybody walking down the dock figures they have the right to peer into the cabin thru the exposed front and side glass. So, I'd take a look at dark tint or even reflective tinting to increase your privacy, assuming you don't run the Marquis from an inside helm.

There is a marina near where we keep the boat that we stay at a lot. Enough that the joke with Marina staff when we call in is they just tell us to take our normal spot. Have gotten to know some of the other boat owners around us.

One of the boat owners there was having tinting put on their boat when we were at the marina last week. Watched the guy throughout the day doing the installation. He has a great reputation (1 man shop, he does the estimate and the installation) seems to take a lot of pride in the job he does. Was on and off our friends boat during the day watching the progress.

Our side windows are tinted, it is those two huge front sloping windows that have no tint whatsoever on them. This boat model has a lower helm as an option (which we do not have), so I am guessing they leave the front windows clear from the factory.

We have a cover which goes around from the outside, but we both hate it. Have not had it on since the fall, was dreading putting it back on this spring as things warm up in FL. Inside the boat it feels closed up with the cover on - I think it is ugly on the outside.

He gave us two samples - lighter and darker. We taped both up on the window to see how they would look. We are going with the darker option if we do the tinting, unless I get some feedback here that moves us a different direction.

Mark

 

[fwebster]

One good thing about tinting windows......if you don't like it, pull it off and do it again or not at all. You are out the initial cost, but you are one step closer to the answer you need.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

Mark, funny you brought this up I’m looking for a boat tinter in my area for a bridge window anyway,
I know you hate the front screen we have it as well the only thing in thinking about is at night I can see through it as the glass is clear if you go dark tint you will lose that ability.
That would add to the closed in feeling for me if I couldn’t look forward.
Are you doing it for heat? Looks? Privacy?
Just thinking out loud

 

[FootballFan]

Mark, funny you brought this up I’m looking for a boat tinter in my area for a bridge window anyway,
I know you hate the front screen we have it as well the only thing in thinking about is at night I can see through it as the glass is clear if you go dark tint you will lose that ability.
That would add to the closed in feeling for me if I couldn’t look forward.
Are you doing it for heat? Looks? Privacy?
Just thinking out loud

Looking to reduce the rays from the sun and heat inside the front of galley/dining area. This is on the mid level, no navigation concerns. Not really worried about the view looking out at night. Privacy is not the primary driver.

The windows I am thinking about are fairly flat and large. Small greenhouse under them in warmer weather.

Considering a ceramic film material. Have taped some samples to the window to get some idea of outcome. We like what we see.

This is the front window area with the "cover" on. Hate both the cave feeling when it is on and how it looks from the outside. Two windows, guessing 4x6 each, fairly flat.

Will probably still use the cover when the boat is parked in hottest summer months when we are back in TX. Just hate it when we are on the boat.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Funny thing about front windshield covers--you either love 'em or hate 'em. Ours is made from a white Stamoid material and we almost never take it off. But we live in a desert climate and without it the interior would bake you.

We have a lower helm but have only used it two or three times. The view is so much better from the bridge that we just always drive from up above.

When we had the cover made we had zippers put on each side to join it up with the grey phifertex(sp?) covers on the side windows.
That helps it stay tight and not flap in the wind.

I will say that it's nice to see out the front windshield but not at the expense of out doing the air conditioning.

 

[Charlesoceanone]

My boat had the tinting on all the windows when I bought it and we love it. Really keeps the salon cooler. Plus it looks cool!

 

[FootballFan]

Appreciate all the feedback.

GFC - we have a great cover - just don't like how it closes inside - or how it looks from the outside.

I pulled the trigger today - going tinted on the front windshields. I won't see how it looks for 3-4 weeks until we go back to the boat.

Will update this thread with our thoughts after we see it.

 

[M Prod]

My boat had the tinting on all the windows when I bought it and we love it. Really keeps the salon cooler. Plus it looks cool!

Yeah, that looks really sharp

 

[tc410]

I pulled the trigger today - going tinted on the front windshields. I won't see how it looks for 3-4 weeks until we go back to the boat.

I recently learned that window tint is classified by %. Do you know what % you went with?

For example, I just did 30% on my wife’s car (let’s in 30% of light). Limo tint is 5%.

 

[FootballFan]

Done.

The streaks you see are on the outside - detailers were working today on the boat - that is the run off from their work.

Inside

Again - the distortion is on the outside from the detailers. And of course all the work materials from the installer are in the pic. But gives an idea of the view from inside in daytime.

Really think we will see benefit from this. The front windows are very flat - was a sun bake before.

Time will tell how much we like it - can we do without the outside cover.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

I like the look so far if the second pic is the finished product I like that you can see through it .
Not sure why I see a small portion at the bottom tinted and not the rest? I’m sure it’s an optical illusion

 

[FootballFan]

I like the look so far if the second pic is the finished product I like that you can see through it .
Not sure why I see a small portion at the bottom tinted and not the rest? I’m sure it’s an optical illusion

Also hope that is an optical illusion .

I have not been on the boat since this was installed, will be there next week.

These pictures were from the installer on the day of install. I had my boat "caretaker" on the boat while this was being done. His feedback was the install looked perfect - so will have to count on that. He has a good eye.

The detailers were working on the boat the same day, water was running down the outside of the windows when the pictures were taken. Will see for myself next week.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

My fault, I was looking at the frame around the window and thought it was the tint material again i like the look of dark windows...

 

[FootballFan]

You can really tell how “flat” those windows are from that picture. Optimistic we can do without the external cover.

 

[Chris-380]

If I had that style of boat, window tint would be a must, especially in Florida. With that flat of a window, it will look great, the curved windows make it tough to do without a splice/seam.... looks great, I predict you will love it!

 

[bbwhitejr]

I cannot imagine not having it. We have the mesh cover for the front windshield as well. You can see through it. Every window on our boat is tinted pretty dark including the sliding glass doors. I think it came from the factory this way. It has to help keep the temp down in the summer. Last summer, numerous dock neighbors decided they would have their windows tinted. The tint guy spent 2 weeks out here and made a small fortune....

Bennett

 

[Strypes]

Send him my way!