Removing scratches in Parker windsheild

[Uncle Matt]

I know I read it here someplace but I did a search and cannot find it now. I have a 23SE and the factory windsheild is scratched and difficult to see through. What do my fellow Parker owners recommend for removing the scratches? The scratches are not deep and they came from me being a dumba$$ and using a squeegy over two years to clear spray from the windsheild.

Plexus?, Novus?, 210?, Meguires?

Also, how does Rain X work on boat windsheilds?

 

[grouperjim]

By fishing buddy scratched the windscreen on my 23 DV CC when he used the wrong rag to clean the salt spray off. I got excellent results by taking the windscreen off the CC and used a new wool bonnet and a 1500 rpm buffer. I am not real sure about what product I used. I think it was Meguires scratch-out. Looked new afterwards. Kept it up with Plexus.

jim

 

[goinsfishin]

Says on the RainX box "use on glass" not recomended for plastics.
That said I've used it for years on my motorcycles with no ill effect.
Do not use paper towel to apply it though, paper will scratch plastics badly.

 

[TomS]

I've used Plexus and am happy with it.. not really trying to fix any scratches or anything, but it gets my windscreen cleaner than I thought it could get.

-- Tom

 

[Uncle Matt]

I just ordered the Novus and will give that a shot. I think I'll remove my windsheild and use my orbital. I'll let you know how that works out.

 

[channel_surfer]

The windshield on my 2005 2520 feels like glass. Is it not?

 

[rangerdog]

RainX works great on boat windshields. We used it on 20 million dollar fighter aircraft so I have no problem using it on my Parker.

 

[Porkchunker]

I believe the soft vinyl windscreens are different from the hard plexiglass cockpit canopies. For some reason the vinyl doesn't like Rain-X.

I used a two-part process. Part 1 was a buffing compound I applied with a power buffer. Part 2 was a thin liquid I applied with a soft cloth. The process removed all the scratches and made the vinyl look good as new. Can't remember what it was, but it was not Plexus.

23 Jul: The product is "210" It comes in two forms: a buffing liquid and a cleaner/protectant. I used the buffing liquid with a powered buffer with a wool bonnet on slow speed. Then followed up with the cleaner/protectant. Worked great...restored my vinyl to like new.

 

[Megabyte]

The windshield on my 2005 2520 feels like glass. Is it not?

The sport cabin windshields are glass.
Uncle Matt has a 23SE center console, and those windscreens are something other than glass.

 

[rangerdog]

I believe the soft vinyl windscreens are different from the hard plexiglass cockpit canopies. For some reason the vinyl doesn't like Rain-X.

I missed the part about it being a 23SE. Now I feel dumb because it is a no brainer to RainX the windshield glass.

 

[Uncle Matt]

Well I ordered the Novus three part system from Ebay and received it over the weekend. It was somewhere around $20 delivered to my house.
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I removed my windsheild, washed it down, and started with step 3 for heavy scratches. I moved onto step 2 and used my orbital with my terry cloth bonnet and finished out with a lambswool bonet. After several coats of step 2, I have to tell you the windsheild looks brand new. So for anyone even considering it, the Novus system worked better than I could of imagined. The best $20 I have ever spent in a long time. Thanks for the recomendation guys.

 

[grouperjim]

8)

 

[hakr]

I wish Parker would drop the damned plastic windscreens on the center consoles and go to a powdered aluminum frame with glass. I've never liked the plexi windscreens so many CC manufacturers use. Parker is a premium-priced boat, and it ought to have a proper glass windscreen.

 

[Porkchunker]

Update to my previous post: The product is "210" It comes in two forms: a buffing liquid and a cleaner/protectant. I used the buffing liquid with a powered buffer with a wool bonnet on slow speed. Then followed up with the cleaner/protectant. Worked great...restored my vinyl to like new.

 

[Outta Here]

I much perfer the plastic windshield. Lots of complaints about powder coating not staying on. Bulky, heavy frames obstruct vision and look, well...bulky on small (18-25' cc's). Many windshields are removed anyway, in favor of nothing or curtains when the T-Top's are installed. You can replace the plastic windshield for around $130 every few years vs. the $500-$800 for glass versions.

One of the advantages of Parker is their low costs of purchase and ownership. Can you name a less expensive 3-piece hull, finished as good as Parker, as well equiped, or as heavy, hand built with real stringers in it, and (much to Dale and B-Faithful's chagrin) equipted with Yamaha power?

Rather than "top-tier" or high priced, I always considered Parker one of the best values in salt-water boats.

 

[Jersey Jim]

I realize this is an old thread but some one may benefit in the future. At work I've seen guys in the shop take scratches out of Lexan sheets by lightly roughing them up around the deeper scratch with something like a ScothBrite or a particular grit paper. They then take a hand-held propane torch and carefully sweep the blue flame across the roughed up surface. This blended in all the scratches and it comes out crystal clear. I'm not sure how much practice it takes to get the feel of the distance and sweep-speed required for the desired results. It's amazing to watch though. Again, that was on Lexan. Not sure if it applies to plexiglass or all polycarbonates.