Motorboat MKM The metal's simplicity and reliability make it an excellent choice for fishing and recreation, but the standard equipment often leaves much to be desired in terms of comfort, especially in protecting the crew from oncoming winds, splashes and insects, which becomes critical when driving at speeds above 20 km / h. windshield This is the first and most important step to modernizing the cockpit.
Owners often face a dilemma: buy a ready-made solution or make glass on their own, relying on proven drawings. The market offers many options, from simple shields to complex designs with swivel windows, but not all of them stand perfectly on the geometry of the case. MKMIn this article, we will analyze in detail the nuances of material selection, installation features and secrets that will help to avoid common mistakes when tuning your boat.
Properly selected glass not only improves comfort, but also significantly affects the safety of control, improving visibility in bad weather. Proper installation will eliminate vibration and rattle, which are often annoying when operating aluminum cases. Below we will discuss the technical aspects that will help you make the right decision on glazing.
Selection of material: glass or polycarbonate
The first thing you need to decide on the owner MKM The traditional silicate glass, which is often used in the automotive industry, is very transparent, but very fragile when impacted. On the water, there is always a high risk of collision with a floating log or abrupt stop. security It's a very important thing to think about, because broken glass in a confined cockpit can cause serious injuries.
The most popular and modern alternative is monolithic polycarbonateThis material has tremendous impact resistance, hundreds of times higher than normal glass, lightweight, which is important for boats with limited capacity, and easy to process at home, polycarbonate is not afraid of vibrations that are inevitable when the engine is running on the ground. MKMIt lasts for decades without losing its properties.
But polycarbonate has its own features that you can't forget, it's prone to scratches, so it requires careful care and the use of wipes, and cheap varieties can turn yellow when exposed to ultraviolet light if they don't have protective coatings. UV-protection.
⚠️ Warning: Never use a conventional window glass or unhardened car window to make a windshield on a boat, and when it hits, it crumbles into sharp shards, turning into a dangerous razor.
The thickness of the material also plays a critical role. for a boat less than 4 meters long, such as MKMThe thinner sheet will play in the wind and create optical distortion, and too thick will unnecessarily weight the structure and require reinforced fastenings. Monolithic polycarbonate with a thickness of 4-5 mm is the gold standard for self-manufacture windbreakers for small-tonnage boats.
Design features and geometry of the MCM boat
Boat. MKM It has a characteristic zygomatic kink and a specific shape of the transom, which dictates certain requirements for the geometry of the windshield. A straight vertical shield will work like a sail, creating excess drag and impairing controllability at the wave. The right glass must be tilted backward, usually in the range of 15-25 degrees, to effectively divert the flow of air and water upwards.
The width of the windbreaker should correspond to the width of the cockpit in the deck area, but not to protrude beyond the dimensions of the side, so as not to create problems when mooring or passing narrowness. MKM The height is also important: too low glass will not protect the face of a sitting person, and too high will block the view and will catch the headwind, braking the boat.
Many owners aim to make the glass whole, but it's not always convenient. vent Or sliding sections, which allow you to adjust the ventilation in the cockpit, and in hot weather or if you need to slow down quickly, you can open the windows by changing the aerodynamics, but each movable part is a potential source of noise and leaks, requiring quality seals.
The design also includes the mounting points to the deck. MKM It has a certain rigidity, and the attachment points must fall on reinforced elements or a transom plate. Using simple screws without reinforcing washers or bushings will cause the vibration to quickly shake the holes, and the glass will begin to "walk."
Step-by-step instructions for manufacturing DIY
Manufacture of windscreen for MKM It's a creative process, but it requires precision. You start by creating a template. You use a dense cardboard or a wattman to replicate the shape you want at a 1:1 scale, and you try it on the boat, and then you make sure that the lines and angles are correct, and you go to the basic material.
The best way to cut polycarbonate is to use a jigsaw with a small-toothed file for metal or plastic. High speeds can melt the edge, so work at medium speeds. After cutting, the edges will be rough, they need to be processed. And grinding the edges is an important step in terms of transparency and aesthetics.
☑️ Checklist of preparations for disclosure
Drilling holes under the fastener requires a special approach. The drill should be sharp, designed for metal or plastic, with a sharpening angle to prevent biting the material. The holes should be located no closer than 30-40 mm from the edge of the sheet to avoid cracks under load. Be sure to install wide rubber washers under the bolt caps.
The final step is to install seals. The rubber profile not only seals the joints, but also acts as a vibration-dampener. Glue the sealer on a low-fat surface using a special rubber glue to keep it from going away over time. After installation, let the sealant dry completely before first going out into the water.
⚠️ Note: When drilling polycarbonate, be sure to remove the protective film at the drilling site, but do not remove it completely before the end of all work, so as not to scratch the surface with the tool.
Fixtures and fittings
Mounting glass to the shell MKM There are several basic ways of fixing, the simplest way is by mounting bolts across the side or deck, which is reliable, but requires drilling of the aluminum hull, which is not always desirable, especially if the boat is not new and there is a risk of corrosion around the holes.
A more gentle option is to use special brackets that cover the side or attach to existing cockpit elements (such as a can or coaming), such brackets can be made of stainless steel or duraluminum corner, which allow you to remove the glass completely in a couple of minutes, which is convenient when transporting a boat on a trailer.
As fasteners, use only stainless steel brand A2 or A4The normal ferrous metal will rust after the first season, spoiling the appearance and jamming the joints. The bolts must be with a secret head or semicircular, so as not to interfere with the view and not to injure passengers.
For sealing the passage of the fastener through the deck, a polyurethane sealant or special rubber bushes is ideal. Silicone is less preferable here, since it holds vibration loads less well and can detach from aluminum over time. Tightness A key factor preventing water from entering the hold or under the deck.
Use a corer before drilling holes in the metal so that the drill does not “walk” on the smooth surface of aluminum and does not leave scratches around the future hole.
Comparison of specifications of materials for windbreaker
To make a final decision, let’s compare the basic parameters of the different materials available on the market. The table below will help you weigh the pros and cons of each option in the context of a boat operation. MKM.
| Characterization | Monolithic polycarbonate | Plexglass (Acrylic) | Tempered glass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact resistance | Very tall (no beats) | Medium (may crack) | High (but crumbles on impact) |
| Weight. | Light. | Light. | Heavy. |
| Processing | Light (sawed, drilled) | Medium (requires heating for flexibility) | Impossible (only finished form) |
| Term of service | 10+ years (with UV protection) | 5-7 years (yellowish) | Indefinitely |
| Price. | Medium | Low/Medium | High. |
As you can see from the table, polycarbonate It's a combination of lightness, strength and ease of self-manufacturing, and it's cheaper, but it's more fragile and turbid, and it's tempered glass is a lot of large boats, where perfect transparency is important and there's a professional installation.
When choosing, also consider the transparency of the material. Cheap polycarbonate can have a light blue or greenish hue, which distorts the colors on the water. For fishing, this can be critical if you use polarization glasses. The quality material must be absolutely transparent, like a crystal.
Care and operation in winter
Proper care of the windscreen will prolong its life and preserve its excellent visibility. The sink should be made with warm water using soft sponges and special plastic products. Aggressive chemistrySolvents and abrasive powders are strictly prohibited, as they instantly make the surface matte and opaque.
Pay special attention to the storage of the boat in winter. MKM It's the best way to take the glass out in the open, to take it out and put it in a warm room, and the temperature changes and the pressure of the snow can deform the thin sheet, and the ice, when it expands in the microcracks, can destroy the material, and the polycarbonate becomes more fragile in the cold.
How do you get rid of small scratches?
You can try to remove small scratches on polycarbonate with polishing. Use a special plastic polymer and a soft flannel cloth. The movements should be circular, without heavy pressure. Deep scratches cannot be removed with polishing - they will only shine in the sun.
Check the condition of the fasteners regularly, vibration on the water can weaken even well-tightened nuts, once a season, perform an audit: tighten the bolts, check the integrity of the rubber seals and replace them if necessary, timely maintenance will eliminate unpleasant surprises during navigation.
⚠️ Warning: Do not wipe dry dusty glass with a dry cloth. The dust works like an abrasive and leaves micro scratches that will eventually turn the transparent glass into cloudy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use tinted polycarbonate for a MCM boat?
Not only does the tinted material (bronze, graphite) look stylish, it also reduces water glare, which improves visibility in sunny weather, but on cloudy days or evening fishing, transparency may not be enough, so consider the operating conditions.
What is the minimum angle of glass inclination optimal for MCM?
The best angle is about 20 degrees relative to the vertical, a smaller angle (more vertical glass) creates sailing and noise, a larger one can limit view and collect water at the base if there are no drain holes.
Do I need to make windows in the glass for a boat 3.5 meters long?
For a boat of this size, MKMThey provide the necessary ventilation, preventing fogging from the inside, and allow airflow control, reducing oncoming wind resistance when needed.
How to glue a rubber seal to polycarbonate?
It is best to use special adhesives for PVC and plastics, or double-sided high-adhesion car tape (such as 3M). Conventional superglue can cause plastic to cloud or become brittle in the cold.
The main conclusion: Self-manufacture of windscreen from monolithic polycarbonate is an economical and reliable way to increase comfort on the MCM boat, requiring a minimum set of tools and accuracy.