Boat Buzz

The very last piece of the puzzle to.complete my boat is the rubber windshield molding. It presses into the aluminum channel that the plexiglass windshield locks into. It goes on the outside and holds the plexiglass in tight, it doesn't look bad without it and most people won't notice, but it rattles like crazy at idle speeds.

I've checked all of the molding catalogs I can find but cannot find it anywhere. Everything I have found has been too big. It measures 3/8"x3/16" and is gray in color. The piece I have left has shrank I've the years and won't stretch around the corners anymore. My only other option is to silicone it in place, but that will be a bear to remove down the road. This is one item that I'm pretty sure Jim Staib doesn't have, maybe I'm wrong. I need about 20-25'.

Andy, Try Steele Rubber

Auto windshield shops have catalogs as well as stock many types of windshield rubber mounting rubber. Find an old shop as older cars and trucks used various types to fill the voids. Thats where I found mine.

If its the Taylor Made complete aluminum framed windshield. Call them. They might have some. They were making those windshields up to about 12 years ago when they ran out of the aluminum. They might still have the grey rubber left that they will sell you.

Thanks Jim. This is probably the best lead I've gotten in several years of searching. I don't see a gray vinyl and they don't have dimensions on their site, but they have a couple moldings that may work. I really appreciate the lead.

I just had a new plexiglass windshield made this winter and I am also on the hunt for this rubber!! If you find a source please share! Otherwise Skip at Middy Plastics (in Renton Washington) who made my windshield has suggested the use of butyl rubber... He says he has used this replacement option several times in the past. Trick is to mask off 1/4" up the plexi, and at the edge of the aluminum frame, then pack the rubber in tight... Once it sets up he claims it will work just like, or better than, the original!

BTW: what did you use for a gasket between the window frame and the deck? I tried to use rubber door seals (household style D shape) but nothing seems to be the right width... I am using this temporarily cause my windshield will be coming back off shortly for frame repairs.

Here is the route I went with one new Plexiglass side with thinner glass. I am assuming this is the area you want gasket material not the base two piece .

I checked with Taylor Made and they do not make this rubber. I spoke with a very knowledgeable guy there that thinks this windshield was made by Speed Sport. I think I am going to use a silver silicone or butyl to seal the windshield in.

The channels shown above are different than this frame. This windshield has holes drilled into it that accept clips, then the frame snaps over the clips. The gasket helps to hold it in tight as well as seal it.

I didn't use a gasket under the windshield frame as there wasn't a gasket under mine to begin with, at least it wasn't there when I disassembled it, so I didn't use one.