190 Bay Windshield

[jack7265]

I sent an e-mail to Triumph questioning whether there is the possibility of getting a clear windshield for my 2003 Triumph 190 Bay. The tinted winshield hampers my view in most cases, so I spend most of my time standing up while driving, so that I can see over the top of the windshield. A leaning post would probably have served me better. Does anyone know of any other sources for a clear winshield for a 190 Bay?

I compared the different models on Triumph's web site, and for the models 191 and above, the windshields are clear. For the 190 and below, the windshields are tinted. It would be nice if Triumph would offer the option of a tinted windshield or a clear windshield. I personally prefer a clear windshield, and let the sunglasses take care of the glare.

[wpschaef]

Hey Jack. if it was me I would take the tinted one to Tap Plastics and they would make me a new one using the old one as a model. Don't know if you have these stores but any acrylic manufacturing place should work. My buddy made one for his bass boat out of acrylic sheet and formed it with a propane torch, carefully. Pretty inexpensive. Good luck.

Biff

[NCangler]

I checked with the factory and as of Model Year 2008 the windshield on the 190 Bay is now clear. If you'd like to replace the windshield on your 2003 you can order the new 2008 clear windshield from a Triumph Dealer. Hope this helps.

[jack7265]

Thanks NCangler and wpschaef for your responses. As I had mentioned, I sent an e-mail to Triumph inquiring as to whether there was an option to get a clear windshield. I'm sure they'll respond letting me know that there is now the option of getting a clear windshield. I wish they had put the clear windshield on the 2003 models.

Beings I live in the New Orleans area, chances are that I may be able to find someone here that may be able to give a price on duplicating the windshield. I will also compare that to the cost of getting a replacement windshield from Triumph.

[NCangler]

If your local dealer isn't close by or doesn't have it you can always call the guys at Merritt Marine in Hillsborough or email them for a quote on one.

[jack7265]

NCangler, I got a response from Bryant Hailey, with Triumph Boats, confirming that they did have clear windshields for a 190 Bay. I've sent several inquiries to Triumph Boats over the past couple of years, and they've been quick to respond. I'll take your advice and get a quote from Merritt Marine.

There isn't a Triumph dealer in the New Orleans metropolitan area. There's one in Prarieville, LA, which is about an hour and twenty minutes from here, and there's Rough Water Marine in Gautier, MS, which is about two hours from here.

[Putershark]

And hopefully the clear ones do not stress crack in the curved sections like the tinted one has on mine.
I would hate to see how bad it "would" have looked by now if it was not covered all the time like mine has been The windshield is not as durable as the hull that is for sure....

[190bayguy]

My 190 (2008) came with the clear windshield. While I was at the dealer this weekend I inquired as to swapping out the windshields for a tinted one. To my surprise the clear windshields are actually thicker than the older tinted ones. I'm assuming an attempt to fix the cracking issue.

[glehav]

putershark my 08 215 came from the factory with stress cracks in the curved part of the windsheld its a clear one so they are still haveing trouble with them. i would think it happens in the cooling process when they make them. but most important the factory sent me a new one no questions asked. i didnt even have to send the cracked one back to them. still love my boat. thanks triumph

[jack7265]

I replaced the tinted windshield with a clear windshield this morning. The difference is like night and day. I've posted a picture of the two windshields, side by side, to make a comparison. You can see that the new windshield is about 50 per cent thicker, and also heavier by about the same.

The windshield was designed for a 2008 190 Bay, so it wasn't an exact fit, and none of the holes on the new windshield matched the location of the holes on the old windshield. My 2003 190 Bay has a slight curve at the front of the windshield whereas the windshield for the 2008 is more straight at the front. I overcame this problem by using two of the spacers from the old windshield. The grommets/spacers for the new windshield were approximately 1/3 the thickness as the old spacers, so I placed the new spacers in the middle/front and at both sides of the windshield, and used the thicker old spacers on either side of the middle/front, which took care of fact that the new windshield was straight and sat further away from the center consolde on either side of the middle front.

I used a small drill bit that was only about a third of the diameter of the screw, not counting the threads, which served as a pilot hole. I started at the middle front, then the two screws, one each on either side of the middle/front, then after tightening the three screws in the front, I drilled the two holes on the sides, one each on either side. Tightening the three screws at the front made sure that the screw holes on the sides were all the way toward the rear prior to drilling the holes on the sides.

The only other problem that I can forsee is that with the center console being white, it creates reflections on the windshield, the same as if you were to place a white envelope on the dash of your car, which creates a distracting reflection. Of course, I'll have to give it a trial run to see how the new windshield looks out on the water. No matter what, I know that I'll have a lot better view through the new windshield.