hydrostream windshield rail fabrication

[texasvector]

has anyone been successful in fabbing a new top rail for their hydrostream?

ive made a jig outta wood and have bent 2 test rails out of some aluminum tube thats close to what i need but not good enough to slap on the boat. (1 too big...1 too little) i used 1"x1" and 3/4" x 3/4".

having a hard time finding the right aluminum extrude that looks right. the original is close to 3/4" x 1".

any ideas or experiences let me know. :cheers:

[daytrader]

I think vector mike on here fabbed a rail for a windshield he made for his vector. Not positive though. Hes not on here much anymore, but you could pm him. He seems to have defied all the hydrostream "donts" and made it work. Flat pad, hi pitch cleaver props and is happy with the results. Just curious, how were you planning to make your windshield ? I have a vector also and the windshield has a few broken pieces on it.

[texasvector]

thanks for the heads up...ill try and pm him for some enlightenment. :cheers:

ive got a fiberglass windshield put together and wrapped with carbon vinyl.

http://i39.tinypic.com/1zmfcsj.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/tahb9y.jpg

http://i44.tinypic.com/166zvom.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/30uqvs2.jpg

we made a jig from my factory rail that works pretty good just cant find the right material to bend with it that looks correct.

http://i40.tinypic.com/2lxh3dt.jpg

[FlowMaxx]

There is one on ebay with a busted screen under it. Bet you could score it for under asking price. Been there for at least a month

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydrostream-Windshield-/130978479680?pt=Boat_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item1e7eecfe40&vxp=mtr#ht_63wt_1328

[texasvector]

seen it...I messaged him yesterday about it... deal in the works.

wish me luck

[daytrader]

hey, that windshield is NICE! Can u describe briefly how you made it. Thankx.

[texasvector]

long story on the windshield. shortened version= i ordered it from someone that "supposedly" has experience and builds them all the time. well after placing order and sending check it took about 9 months before i recieved it. and when it showed up it wasnt finished and needed alot of body work.

i straightened and tightened it up where its usable at best, thats why i decided to wrap it.


if you have your old shield...you could pop a mold off of it and build you a glass one.

if i had to do it again i would order one from afr... his look real nice and it beats the hours of sanding you gotta put into making one.

[texasvector]

FlowMaxx

There is one on ebay with a busted screen under it. Bet you could score it for under asking price. Been there for at least a month

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydrostream-...r#ht_63wt_1328 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydrostream-Windshield-/130978479680?pt=Boat_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item1e7eecfe40&vxp=mtr#ht_63wt_1328)



well flowmaxx deal came through.....i now have a windshield. thanks for the heads up :thumbsup:

http://i40.tinypic.com/25hedz9.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/2ropa9e.jpg

[FlowMaxx]

FlowMaxx

There is one on ebay with a busted screen under it. Bet you could score it for under asking price. Been there for at least a month

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydrostream-...r#ht_63wt_1328 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydrostream-Windshield-/130978479680?pt=Boat_Parts_Accessories_Gear&hash=item1e7eecfe40&vxp=mtr#ht_63wt_1328)



well flowmaxx deal came through.....i now have a windshield. thanks for the heads up :thumbsup:

http://i40.tinypic.com/25hedz9.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/2ropa9e.jpg


Very nice! Gives the boat a whole new look. I like it alot :cheers:

[XstreamVking]

The Streams look so much better with the w/s. Nice looking boat....

[hydrostream boys]

Would like to mine also, if they are straight they are clean. I dont like the bent look they all have. Looks really good, hollar some time

[hydrostream boys]

Would like to mine also, if they are straight they are clean. I dont like the bent look they all have. Looks really good, hollar some time

[Hippie459MN]

I cant believe I missed this. Looks great. Did that windshield come from RJ? If so I know 3 other people that had MAJOR issues and one of them send theirs back but took a good month or two to get his money back. He ended up getting one from Scott (AFR) for less money and way better quality.

[hydrostream boys]

Looks like you found something that worked! I would like to get toughter and go over it, I dont think you are that far from me. Everybody thinks im stupid for even thinking about but I still push foward. At this point she is pulled apart and now would be a good time to do it.

[texasvector]

Looks like you found something that worked! I would like to get toughter and go over it, I dont think you are that far from me. Everybody thinks im stupid for even thinking about but I still push foward. At this point she is pulled apart and now would be a good time to do it.

depending on what side of houston you r on....im not that far at all. i never found any "stock" to bend a new one but still have the jig. it'd be easier for you to source out some aluminum stock in houston (alot more suppliers) you find some usable stuff you could always come use the jig to bend you a rail.

hopefully ill be heading to dayton in january for winter nationals....halfway between me and houston. be nice having another stream show up.....just saying

[hydrostream boys]

There are about eight of us on the san jacinto v kings, vectors, and a viper or two. I have had no luck coming up with something that matches what pipcorn produced. Went to a glass shop and was digging in there catalog, very proud of what they have. Would like to know how you bent it around, I can do the jig. I also have some aluminum unistrut and 1inch conduit. I thought I would start with that and see how it went first. How many winter nationals have you been to? We nave made the past three. The drags at dso they got us on video, just riding by but they got us. And the wind shield, did you make that or is it something that you fixed? And check out plumb crazy fiberglass, his vector is very nice! Down here we call bu ba tne president, v king with a 260. If you want to be president you have to pass him. " he is over a 100mph" lol

[AlaskaStreamin]

I filled in my broken windshield with spray foam and bondo then spray glue and tin foil then several layers of mat and cloth. . Tin foil is a great release agent. The plexi glass will attach to resin thru wax.

Coty,.. I think a fiberglass frame would be the only way to recreate the original. Quick,...pull a mold off yours. LOL

http://i49.tinypic.com/312v2h5.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/2nc2ag5.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/k47edl.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/34y5veq.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/2ue1n4p.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/160def8.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/1zvyaag.jpg

http://i56.tinypic.com/2rqyuzt.jpg

The problem is,.......the time it takes to make a mold, make the part, and TRY to make minimum wage for your time,.... not enough people want to spend the money to make it worth your time.

That's how/ why I learned fiberglass. Out of necessity.

My windscreen HAD to look just like the original so the back side is as smooth and shiny as the front. It takes time but is worth it in the end....

[hydrostream boys]

That is one really nice stream! What a great job you have done with it! And a 280?!! Lol I think I will just watch from the bank, lol.

[texasvector]

ron.... your work never ceases to amaze me. how's the virage coming?

[texasvector]

There are about eight of us on the san jacinto v kings, vectors, and a viper or two. I have had no luck coming up with something that matches what pipcorn produced. Went to a glass shop and was digging in there catalog, very proud of what they have. Would like to know how you bent it around, I can do the jig. I also have some aluminum unistrut and 1inch conduit. I thought I would start with that and see how it went first. How many winter nationals have you been to? We nave made the past three. The drags at dso they got us on video, just riding by but they got us. And the wind shield, did you make that or is it something that you fixed? And check out plumb crazy fiberglass, his vector is very nice! Down here we call bu ba tne president, v king with a 260. If you want to be president you have to pass him. " he is over a 100mph" lol

haven't made it to the San jac yet. holler at me when yall get together... I'm down to come run with y'all. 4096584919

[hydrostream boys]

Cool, im still in pieces but back toughter. It wont be long till v king rides again! Have an e mail for ya, Dhees@gracomechanical.com I will give ya some notice before so you can get ready. Sounds like a ride! Who is the guy with the viper and a 280? He da ****, lol

[Hippie459MN]

Who is the guy with the viper and a 280? He da ****, lol

Thats Ron and he has skills. :D

[AlaskaStreamin]

LOL!! :D

I think you got the Virage/ 280 in my sig. confused with the Viper/ 200 I had in my sig. previously.
The Viper has a carb 2.5 200....and that was fast enough for me.. Now lives in Georgia.

I will be working on the Virages' splashwell delete/ modification Jan 17-26 while in Washington.

Don't want to hi-jack this thread but will post on the progress in another thread when we get back.

I did look around for extruded frame rail material and never found any. I think Howard had them made.

[texasvector]

I did look around for extruded frame rail material and never found any. I think Howard had them made.

the best extrude i found was 5/8" x 1 1/16" rectangular tube.....it had routed corners and prolly would of worked perfect but.............shipping a 12' length of it (enough to make one rail) shipping was $230.00 or something like that...:eek:

[AlaskaStreamin]

If you look at these pictures, it's pretty complex considering the retaining clips that grip the internal ribs.

http://i45.tinypic.com/drbgj8.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/x84cp.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/k0kr2d.jpg