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Suggestions for Flybridge Windows?

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by DOCKMASTER, Oct 1, 2015.

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  1. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    One of my projects for this winter will be to replace my flybridge enclosure and forward glass windows. I currently have tempered glass set in canvas across the front and then typical side and aft clear vinyl and canvas panels. For the front I plan to remove the original plastic venturi and get custom windows and frames made. Removing the venturi and bringing glass farther down will greatly increase the visibility and lower line of sight. Putting glass in frames will allow larger windows and be a more solid installation. I will likely need to modify the hard top support struts to allow more room for the glass. I plan to reuse my existing 3(ea) Vetus wiper assemblies and controller. The sides and aft panels will get new canvas and vinyl or similar.
    Anyone have any specific suggestions of glass/frame vendors or examples of what you have had custom made? I will need compound bevel tempered glass to allow for the existing curvature. Any frame recommendations as to aluminum, fiberglass or other? I appreciate any input. Here are a few pictures of existing.

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  2. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    That's a seriously expensive way of doing it. Curved windshields are seldom made one-off. It'll also add substantial weight. I'd recommend going with EZ2CY. It can be curved if you desire. Most guys I've known who converted to hard enclosues simply built frames and put in flat glass (tempered), but even the best looked pretty home-made.
  3. Perlmudder

    Perlmudder Member

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    Lee aerospace can make the glass, but it is going to be very expensive. He makes all the windshields for all the high end, high performance boats.
  4. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    Thanks for the suggestion but I cannot use EZ2CY on the front. I need to run wipers on the front so must be glass. I'm in a temperate rain forest with over 160" of rain a year.
  5. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    Thanks. I had not heard of Lee. I will check with them. I'm looking at others such as Diamond Sea Glaze or Taylor Made apparently does custom windows as well.
  6. ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

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    What about Makrolon, maybe? I think there are various grades...

    Our forward enclosure panels are Makrolon, semi-rigid and clear like EZ2CY... and rain simply runs off. Haven't used Rain-X on them, but if chemically compatible (haven't checked), that might be even better. Anyway, seems to me some use the stuff in various applications where abrasion resistance is required...

    -Chris
  7. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    So after talking to quite a few window vendors and assessing options we have decided to do the work in-house. My fabricator will make the extrusions out of aluminum stock that gets cut into extrusions after forming. We will get tempered glass panels from a local glass dealer and set them. The only current challenge is if we will do the corners of the flybridge in glass, or a polycarbonate version of some kind. The corners are a pretty tight radius with compound bevel to boot. We are making a template (almost a mold) that will get sent to a glass vendor that thinks they can make it. if they can, it will be done in glass. if not, plan "b".
    The venturi is removed and the front panels and frames have all been mocked up. It is amazing how much the line of sight is improved with the venturi gone!! I'll post some pictures when I can.
  8. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Hatteras has done solid glass windows on the front of the bridge and strataglass or EZ2CY on the sides/rear on a few models and it works pretty well...The 72' MY comes to mind......A few others have also. You can use wipers on the front and then open the sides if you want and it reduces a lot of weight up there.
  9. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Not sure if I'd use Rain-X (DK one way or the other if it's compatable), but the RX I just tested should do the trick. http://www.yachtforums.com/threads/...aner-polish-for-eisenglass.25184/#post-224041
  10. d_meister

    d_meister Senior Member

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    If you get custom glass, be sure and discuss the expected quality and get a guarantee. The Nordhavn 55 I ran for the last two seasons has tempered glass in every pane, and 4 curved sections. The two forward pilothouse curved glass sections have severe distortion in the tight radius that aggravates everyone who tries to look through them. With two or three people with binoculars trying to spot logs, traffic, whales, or bears, it's not long before everyone is irritated. Not to mention that there are essentially two large blind spots in the forward field of vision. For that reason, I would suggest Lexan for any curved sections. Another issue the N55 has is that many of the tempered panes have imperfections that cause a "fish eye" distortion that grabs your attention so that instead of looking through the window, you're distracted to the point of looking for the source of the distortion. It's amusing to watch guests sitting at the galley counter and bobbing and weaving their heads looking through the galley portlight, trying to capture the exact defective spot. These imperfections are tiny and invisible, but the fish eye is a 3-4" effect. Much of the glass on that boat could have been or should have been Safety Glass rather than tempered. Before anyone asks, the glass comes from Canada, not from Taiwan. Be sure and proof any glass or Lexan before installing, maybe by mounting it temporarily vertically a few feet away from a repeating geometric pattern (chain link fence pattern?) and looking through it from various distances while moving.
  11. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    Great tips and info. Thank you. I will make sure to check for these imperfections.
  12. rscavello

    rscavello New Member

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    I own a 58 Hatteras Yachfish with a hard top. I would love to see the finished product with actual windows vs lexan. I've been through the eisan glass soft covers and thinking about putting safety glass in at least the front. Anyone who has made this change and can share some insight would be greatly appreciated.
    Regards,
    rms
  13. okskipper

    okskipper New Member

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    I agree with d_meister's assessment of curved glass, especially with tight corners. We built the first few boats with (tight) curved glass in the forward corners of the pilothouse. Interestingly, from the center helm chair, there was little distortion but to anyone not sitting there, the distortion would drive you crazy. Our new designs now have a redesigned window arrangement with mullions in the corners. Also, there was the cost. We got the curved glass windows from Garibaldi (BC, Canada) and our cost was $2250 per side. We had one slip while being installed and cash to the floor........very expensive mistake.
  14. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    Decided to go with glass for the radius corners. Templates for the corner glass are made and at the glass shop. We ended up going with laminated safety glass vs. tempered. Glass for all panels will be 1/2" thick. Lead time for the corners is 4 weeks including shipping. I nearly fell over at the price quote but decided to go ahead with it and try to have this done right and then hopefully never have to deal with it again. I can't say enough about how much better it looks and improves the line of sight with the plastic venture gone!. This is not a great picture but here's what the template for the port side glass came out to look like.


    IMG_1169.JPG
  15. g collis

    g collis Member

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    Just order a new full enclosure for my boat as well. Just plain old Stratoglass. It will be a welcome relief for our upcoming trip from Panama City to St Simons Island. We ran for four hours yesterday. Temperature was approximately 60 degrees, but the wind had a good bite to it, plus spray, and this old man was getting cold.
  16. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    60 degrees is a typical summer day where I am :) I'm also considering installing a Wallas or similar diesel furnace for the bridge. I want it not only for heat but for defroster on the front glass.
  17. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    Visited boat today to see progress on windows. Everything is mocked up and frames are being fabricated.
    Note how the larger support struts for the hard top have been relocated. They use to land on the front of the house. They are relocated to the sides so they no longer encroach on the corner window openings. The top of the windows are also relocated about 6" aft. This allowed the three front windows to be flat glass with no shape. We also but a slight kick (bend) in the two forward diagonal struts to give just enough clearance for the wiper arms to fit between them and the glass once it is installed.
    IMG_1824.JPG IMG_1826.JPG IMG_1825.JPG IMG_1828.JPG IMG_1829.JPG











    IMG_1828.JPG IMG_1825.JPG IMG_1826.JPG IMG_1824.JPG
  18. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    The new bridge windows came out fantastic. I couldn't be happier! The line of sight improvement from the helm is remarkable and now guests can sit at the forward bench and actually see out. We had the whole frame powder coated and the color match came out great. We still have to make covers for the wiper cables, washdown tubes and wiper motors but here's a few pics showing the difference from the inside:
    IMG_1973.JPG IMG_1974.JPG IMG_1975.JPG
  19. chesapeake46

    chesapeake46 Senior Member

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    The job looks great, especially the corners.
  20. DOCKMASTER

    DOCKMASTER Senior Member

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    Thanks! The corner frames (top/bottom) were molded in fiberglass with aluminum insets for added strength. The two pieces of glass were ridiculously expensive but I'm glad we went this route.