Anyone have a windshield wiper on a small boat?
I'm considering adding one to my 19' bowrider and wondering if it's worth
the money and effort in the first place and if it's worth spending more to
get one with an electric motor, in the second place.

Bill Andersen wrote:

Anyone have a windshield wiper on a small boat?
I'm considering adding one to my 19' bowrider and wondering if it's worth
the money and effort in the first place and if it's worth spending more to
get one with an electric motor, in the second place.



Fresh water or salt? Rain or spray?

If rain, and you're out in it frequently, a wiper is worthwhile. Same
with fresh water spray.

But salt spray? Makes a mess on the windshield on a small boat, dries,
smears and if you are not careful, the action of the wiper against salt
grains can etch the glass.

Do you have a way to protect an electric wiper motor from the elements
once installed?

--
Email sent to is never read.

Mostly salt water operation. Rain and spray. The motor would be protected by
the convertible style top that I put up in the rain. I use a squeegee to
wipe the glass, but it's a nuisance to have to unzip the center of the top
to be able to reach the outside of the glass. The older I get, the less I
like nuisances.

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
Bill Andersen wrote:

Anyone have a windshield wiper on a small boat?
I'm considering adding one to my 19' bowrider and wondering if it's
worth
the money and effort in the first place and if it's worth spending more
to
get one with an electric motor, in the second place.



Fresh water or salt? Rain or spray?

If rain, and you're out in it frequently, a wiper is worthwhile. Same
with fresh water spray.

But salt spray? Makes a mess on the windshield on a small boat, dries,
smears and if you are not careful, the action of the wiper against salt
grains can etch the glass.

Do you have a way to protect an electric wiper motor from the elements
once installed?

--
Email sent to is never read.

I have a wiper on my boat. The motor is inside under the dash and only the
drive shaft goes to the outside. Is a 1991 boat, used both salt and fresh
and still wiping. Is nice when the salt spray hits the window when the wind
is blowing. Also when it is raining. Mine is a forward console aluminum
boat and I do have full canvas for rain. Benefits of an Oregon made boat.
They know rain!
Bill

"Bill Andersen" wrote in message
news1KPb.34157$Xq2.22326@fed1read07...
Mostly salt water operation. Rain and spray. The motor would be protected
by
the convertible style top that I put up in the rain. I use a squeegee to
wipe the glass, but it's a nuisance to have to unzip the center of the top
to be able to reach the outside of the glass. The older I get, the less I
like nuisances.

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
Bill Andersen wrote:

Anyone have a windshield wiper on a small boat?
I'm considering adding one to my 19' bowrider and wondering if it's
worth
the money and effort in the first place and if it's worth spending
more
to
get one with an electric motor, in the second place.



Fresh water or salt? Rain or spray?

If rain, and you're out in it frequently, a wiper is worthwhile. Same
with fresh water spray.

But salt spray? Makes a mess on the windshield on a small boat, dries,
smears and if you are not careful, the action of the wiper against salt
grains can etch the glass.

Do you have a way to protect an electric wiper motor from the elements
once installed?

--
Email sent to is never read.

"Bill Andersen" wrote in message
news:%cIPb.32874$Xq2.18534@fed1read07...
Anyone have a windshield wiper on a small boat?


Not on a small boat, but I installed one on my 36' Carver. The basics
would be the same, however.

There are basic windshield wiper motors available and they don't cost much.
You need like a 3/8" hole for the shaft to go through, and then two or three
wires up to the motor (which mounts on the inside of the windshield). The
third wire is to provide power to "park" the wiper at one end when you turn
it off.

The cheap motors typically swing the wiper blade 45 degrees. You need to
arrange the length of the wiper arm and the length of the blade so that it
will wipe a useable portion of the windshield without running into the
windshield frame.

The wiper blades that typically are used are specific to the manufacturer
and will need to be replaced with similar, which kind of sucks in that you
can't buy refills at the local auto parts store. They also only work on a
flat windshield. You may be able to buy or adapt an automotive arm so that
you could use refills.

When it is raining, having any sort of wiper helps.

Rod

"Bill Andersen" wrote in message
news:%cIPb.32874$Xq2.18534@fed1read07...
Anyone have a windshield wiper on a small boat?
I'm considering adding one to my 19' bowrider and wondering if it's worth
the money and effort in the first place and if it's worth spending more to
get one with an electric motor, in the second place.

I've installed wipers on three boats I've owned. I always install on both
sides as well as on the walk through window if I can. I need every
advantage I can get sometimes, and the passengers like to see and help
navigate as well. I always use my boats in rain or shine and therefore have
really used the wipers a lot. Take a look at your set up and figure out if
it's doable - sometimes clearance for the motor is a problem. Also scope
out where you'll put the controls before hand. For what it's worth, I
couldn't find dual positon wiper controls at any local marine store, but
found them at a local auto parts store.

I recommend buying a high quality unit as opposed to the cheapest you can
find. Advantages I've found are multi speed, adjustable throw range (e.g.
narrow wipe angle vs. broad wipe angle - customize to your windshield size
and shape), adjustable arm length, better two point attachment for motor (to
resist torque), parking feature, adjustable stop position (e.g. left or
right), and general longer lasting. Second thing I've found out, if you
install two, put them on separate controls and separate fuses. They won't
be synced like your car wipers and therefore if on a single control, the
first one to reach its parking position will stop both, the other one is
usually in the middle of the windshield. Second, the motors are relatively
high draw (compared to a lot of boating accessories), therefore two motors
through one console circuit breaker can cause a lot of popped breakers.

By the way, if you can't shelter the motor, they do make some good quality
ones with waterproof cases.

www.shipstore.com has a bunch of varieties.

Griss,
Thanks, this is just the information I was hoping for.
Almost everything on my boat is budget; I didn't want to save a couple of
bucks with a manual wiper and then regret not having bought a powered one.

"Griss" wrote in message
...
"Bill Andersen" wrote in message
news:%cIPb.32874$Xq2.18534@fed1read07...
Anyone have a windshield wiper on a small boat?
I'm considering adding one to my 19' bowrider and wondering if it's
worth
the money and effort in the first place and if it's worth spending more
to
get one with an electric motor, in the second place.

I've installed wipers on three boats I've owned. I always install on both
sides as well as on the walk through window if I can. I need every
advantage I can get sometimes, and the passengers like to see and help
navigate as well. I always use my boats in rain or shine and therefore
have
really used the wipers a lot. Take a look at your set up and figure out
if
it's doable - sometimes clearance for the motor is a problem. Also scope
out where you'll put the controls before hand. For what it's worth, I
couldn't find dual positon wiper controls at any local marine store, but
found them at a local auto parts store.

I recommend buying a high quality unit as opposed to the cheapest you can
find. Advantages I've found are multi speed, adjustable throw range (e.g.
narrow wipe angle vs. broad wipe angle - customize to your windshield size
and shape), adjustable arm length, better two point attachment for motor
(to
resist torque), parking feature, adjustable stop position (e.g. left or
right), and general longer lasting. Second thing I've found out, if you
install two, put them on separate controls and separate fuses. They won't
be synced like your car wipers and therefore if on a single control, the
first one to reach its parking position will stop both, the other one is
usually in the middle of the windshield. Second, the motors are
relatively
high draw (compared to a lot of boating accessories), therefore two motors
through one console circuit breaker can cause a lot of popped breakers.

By the way, if you can't shelter the motor, they do make some good quality
ones with waterproof cases.

www.shipstore.com has a bunch of varieties.

I really like 'RainX' down in the Everglades. We get rain like a waterfall
in the summer, NO wiper is going to keep up with that. Plus I run tours,
don't have time to find blades that rot out every two months. Forget the
wiper and all it's expense, do the Rain X, Hell if it doesn't work you can
still add the wiper for $$$$

matt

"Bill Andersen" wrote in message
news:%cIPb.32874$Xq2.18534@fed1read07...
Anyone have a windshield wiper on a small boat?
I'm considering adding one to my 19' bowrider and wondering if it's worth
the money and effort in the first place and if it's worth spending more to
get one with an electric motor, in the second place.

"Capt. Matt" wrote in message
...
I really like 'RainX' down in the Everglades. We get rain like a waterfall
in the summer, NO wiper is going to keep up with that. Plus I run tours,
don't have time to find blades that rot out every two months. Forget the
wiper and all it's expense, do the Rain X, Hell if it doesn't work you can
still add the wiper for $$$$

matt

"Bill Andersen" wrote in message
news:%cIPb.32874$Xq2.18534@fed1read07...
Anyone have a windshield wiper on a small boat?
I'm considering adding one to my 19' bowrider and wondering if it's
worth
the money and effort in the first place and if it's worth spending more
to
get one with an electric motor, in the second place.





They make wiper blades that do not rot these days.
Bill

If you can figure a way add fresh water spray like a car has. Some are
attached to the wiper blade. Large water supply.

Mike
********************

Anyone have a windshield wiper on a small boat?
I'm considering adding one to my 19' bowrider and wondering if it's worth
the money and effort in the first place and if it's worth spending more to
get one with an electric motor, in the second place.