www.iFourWinns.com

I'm new to this forum and hope I'm not posting this in the wrong place. I don't see a forum area specifically for repairs.

After much searching over a 2 year period, I have found a replacement windshield for my Horizon 190. I am trying to remove the old windshield's rail that sits on the boat w/ a rubber gasket between. (It's the bottom of the old windshield frame.) To do this I must reach up to the inside of the gunwale and remove several nylock nuts. I can reach the ones on top of the side storage area and the ones in front (required removal of the back cushion in the bow area). But I'd need the arm of a skinny orangutan to reach the one(s) at the curve (i.e.) above the front grip handles.

To state this another way, I can reach the three back most bolts and the three that are closest to the walk-through but that leaves one or two in the middle. I've tried removing the grip handles and the side padding but Can't seem to get it off. On the Starboard side I'd have to remove the throttle handle too - what a mess.

Anyone ever done this? Any thoughts or ideas?

Thanks

Welcome to the forum. Can you post any pictures of the locations you're talking about? It might help.

Without pictures, I can only say that if there are nuts on the backside, somebody, somehow, was able to hold them during installation - so there has to be some way to get to them. Not much help, I know.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Is it possible that the windshields are installed before the two halves of the boat are glued and screwed together. Easy to assemble, not so easy to service.

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2008 210SS 6.2L DTS Bravo 1 Now featuring MercMonitor w/SmartTow

I don't think even FW would do that, although it wouldn't be the first time I was wrong... in the last 5 minutes.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

This is going to be a bit of a tough spot, you may have to lay under the helm and try to reach the mounting hard ware from under there. I don't know if they installed them before the top cap is on the boat but it would make sense for them, not for repair though. Stack up some lifejackets and put some pillows on top of them and get a really bright LED flashlight and see what it looks like. I bet the fasteners will be pretty rusty so bring along the PB Blaster while you're at it.....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

OK, update! I spent much of yesterday working on this boat and discovered there was not another bolt as I had originally feared. There were only six total. Once I'd removed them I noticed the frame didn't want to budge so I assumed a seventh bolt in the middle where I couldn't reach. Turns out, the aluminum window frame was just stuck fast to the rubber molding. Once I pried it up a bit it came right off.

Got the replacement windshield on and it looks pretty good. And for the first time in 2.5 years the boat is out of the garage. Wife's pleased!

Just in case anyone on this forum ever has to do this, here's the drill for removing the windshield for a 4W bow-rider.

1. Lift the bow seat and prop or tie it up. Reach an arm into the storage space back toward the cockpit and remove the 3/8" nylock nut that holds the bow backrest cushion.
2. Remove two phillips head screws holding the bottom of the backrest cushion, one at the curve and one at the forward most edge. If you get down low you can see them (I've had this boat 10 years and never noticed them.)
3. Pull upward on the backrest cushion and it will pop out of place revealing a 6" access circle cut into the fiberglass. You can now reach three bolts (3/8") holding the front of the windshield frame in place.
4. Back in the cockpit, flatten the seats (If you have the back-to-back type) so you can lay on them, you'll need to. Now reach into the upper side storage and feel two more 3/8" nylocks holding the side part of the windshiled. Remove them.
5. Now stick your arm as far as you can into the opening stretching forward as far as possible and you'll barely feel the third nut. I could barely get a 3/8" x 1/4"drive socket on it. You'll need a deep socket. Once you get that one off, the frame should come loose.
NOTE: There was no way I was going to get that nut back on so I drilled a new hole about 3" farther back so I could reach it when putting the windshield back on. The windshield bolts slide in a track so you can place them anywhere you want. Also, I had to drill a couple new holes for the front supports. The replacement windshield was from a different year and model.

Ouch!!! Hope I never have to change a windshield. BTW what happened to break/crack yours in the first place? My belief has always been that the FW hull is strong enough to resist flexing unlike some lightweigt chopped strand layups. In any event, thanks for your posting and update - it will be useful if I ever have to do the same.

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2001 Horizon 180LE 4.3 VP SX
2008 GMC 1500 6.0L Z71

I agree that the FW hull is strong enough to resist flexing. Unfortunately, it's not strong enough to resist owner stupidity! In summer, I kept the boat on a lift which has a roof. The lift is a cradle assembly suspended by steel cables and controlled by a Up/Dn switch. On day, I got distracted while the boat was going up (the process can take as long as 4 min. if the lake is low) and walked away from the dock. CRUNCH!!!

I decided to buy another boat (I had a bad case of two-footitis) and repair the FW to sell. I bought a Hurricane SD217 w/ 150 Yamaha OB, a boat that I thought would just what I wanted. In the two years it took to find a windshield I discovered that I missed the FW. It handles better, rides better and is much more comfortable for lounging in.