Re-painting/ Powder coating the window

[Grant_West]

The paint on the window frame is crap. It chip's scratches real easy. It looked as if the aluminum wasent even sanded when it was painted. I know I can remove paint with my finger nail. So
I decided on a moments notice that I would take the windshield off and get the frame striped and powedcoated. If your wondering it takes about 20 min's to get the window off.

After I got the window off I broke it down and labled all the peices so I can be sure it gets back together easy.

[Ryan_E]

RE: Re-painting/ Powder coating the window

It looks like the only thing you don't have is pop up cleats. Very nice ride!

[wakejunky]

RE: Re-painting/ Powder coating the window

Grant,

I have a powder coated windsheild frame. It looks sweet but, you do need to keep it waxed, powder coating doesn't have a clear coat for UV protection like normal paint.
The hardest part about getting the frame and windshield back together is the overlap in corners, the extra thickness of the powder coating makes it difficult to get the frames to overlap. When you do the work, use lots and lots of soapy water to get the rubber gasket to seat into the frame.
I think a PC frame looks much better than the crappy oem paint. Keep in mind tho that you have a 5 year warrantee on the boat so, you might be able to get some of your costs covered.. When my frame started to chip, I had the factory cover the PC and I did the labor since they would only cover frame replacement.

Chris

[TRBenj]

RE: Re-painting/ Powder coating the window

Are you planning on sticking with black powdercoat, or going with another color, such as silver?

Breaking down the windshield wasnt too difficult? How are you prepping the frame for powdercoat?

The thought had crossed my mind to do something like this. I'd love to hear more about it and see more pics of the project. Very cool!

[Grant_West]

Im going to re- powercoat it black. They will sand blast the frame to prep it. Chris thanks for the tip on the PC. I will wax it , How often do you think you need to wax it to keep the UV protection. My tower was powercated about 2 years ago and it still look's like new. I have thrown some wax on it though. Yea I was wondering how the edge's were going to go back together they were pretty tight as is and there was no paint on the edge's

[Grant_West]

BTW Chris how did you go about getting any money out of CC on the window frame????

[wakejunky]

Grant,

I filed a warrantee claim with them, the paint was peeling off, they saw it, took pictures of it and sent it to the warrantee guy @ headquarters. They agree to pay the PC and I did the labor because they would have only replaced the frame which is almost no cost to them so, I thought it was a pretty fair deal.

Chris

[Mikeski]

Just an fyi. The service centers sell rattle cans of paint that match the window frame. I am going pick one up next time I am there.

[lbz99smp]

They will sand blast the frame to prep it.

Our SAN needs to have the wind screen frame re coated to. Is the frame aluminium? I always thought you shouldn't sand blast aluminium as it is softer than mild steel and the blasting will pit the aluminium. I was going to use a paint striper, the oem paint isnt very durable and will probably come of easy enough.

[wakejunky]

Mikeski,

When my windsheild initially started peeling, I rattle canned some paint on there but, for some reason the paint would peel again within a few weeks and it looked patched. But, with a silver frame it might not look so bad.

Chris

[ag4ever]

You don't "sand" blast aluminum. You usually soda blast aluminum, but the generic term is still sand blasting.

[SkiTexas]

Hello, I'm new here, but have been an avid reader for sometime. Great information for CC owners.

I have been touching up the black paint on my windshield since it was new it seems. I recently had my tower re-PC'd and wondered about having the windshield frame done too.

I like the newer silver color windshield frames I've seen on an 2006 SV-211 Team. Is it paint, powder coat or anodized?

Thanks,
Scott

[TRBenj]

Wakejunky (or anyone else): do you have a pic of your powerdercoated windshield? I am especially curious to see a black windshield- I dont know what would look best, a glossy finish or a "wrinkle" finish that seems to have some texture.

[Grant_West]

I got my windshield back today 30 Min later it was all together, It cost me $120 to get it done. Its shiney black so now it matches my tower. Every time I have had somthing powerd coated they have Sand blasted it not soda blasted. Mabey its diffrent in my aera. Anyway's it comes out smooth glossy finish no imperfections from sand blasting. Looks like a thick paint only downside is somtimes it looks a bit orange peal'd but its super durable. IMO touching up the window is a waset of time, After doing my windshield and finding out how easy it is I wish I would have done it way back. My boat came with a windshield mounted mirrior and like all windshield mounted mirriors it scratched the **** out of the frame. So when I remove the windshield mounted mirrior and went to the tower mounted mirrior you now have to look at these ulgy touched up spots where your old mirrior used to hang and they are right in front of your face. Plus wher the walk threw windshield window closed it was all scratched up not from touching but just from bad prep. The windshield didnt even look like it was sanded before it was painted. It looked like raw aluminum.

[Mikeski]

The windshield on my 1995 had a rubber strip that took the brunt of the wear from the boat cover and anything else dragging over the top of it. Somehow they missed that feature in my 2005, the paint on top of my windshield frame was scratched/worn after just a week of sitting outside. Now I put a piece of pipe insulation over the top of the frame before putting the cover on, I wish they still had the rubber top strip.