Memorial Day weekend 2011, I visited my indoor boat storage facility to retrieve my 1988 American Skier Advance. I removed the canvas boat cover to find a bazillion pieces of broken glass adorning the floor of the Skier. For an unknown reason, the factory-original tempered glass windshield had shattered.
Not knowing what to do, I searched the web looking for Skier windshields, finding Dan T. A telephone conversation with Dan T informed me American Skier windshields were virtually unavailable, with a suggestion to call Ron T. I called Ron T and learned of this amskierboats website, in addition to some other valuable windshield information.
The original 1988 Advance windshield apparently was a curved-tempered piece of 5/16” glass. It was manufactured by a company with the tradename “Water Bonnet”. This Water Bonnet company had apparently fallen on hard times several years ago and was purchased by another company.
I attempted to contact the successor company many times to determine if they would reproduce a Skier windshield. I was willing to underwrite the cost of a production run, if the company had interest. Unfortunately, I was shuffled between various departments, persons, and manufacturing facilities. After hours of unsuccessful contacts and waiting on the telephone line, I gave up. In my opinion, windshield manufacturers aren’t interested in servicing the replacement market, period!!
Several persons suggested I just forget about a glass windshield, and replace it with an acrylic or polycarbonate unit cut to size. I found another 88 Skier owner that had replaced his tempered glass windshield with a plastic one. It was an acceptable alternative, but had neither the optical properties nor the strength of the original tempered glass.
Researching the web, I found the website of a marine replacement glass manufacturer in Florida claiming to reproduce vintage boat and custom tempered glass. I contacted the owner, who stated he would reproduce my windshield for $600, if I sent him the original windshield frame for a pattern. He stated his turnaround time was two weeks ARO. I removed my windshield frame from the Skier, carefully packaged it, and apprehensively sent it to Florida.
After two weeks, I contacted the marine windshield shop, only to find they had received my windshield frames, but hadn’t started work. After a few more calls in the ensuing weeks (burning mid-summer ski time!!), I was pleased to find they had completed the work and were ready to ship. The total cost now came to $800, as a $200 shipping container with associated freight costs, were required.
Approximately six weeks after the initial shipment, my new windshield arrived in the original framing, crated well. Out of curiosity, I removed the windshield from the framing, to find it was ¼” flat tempered glass. Note : I do not recommend one removing glass from frames though. If it looks good, leave it!
I reassembled the new windshield to the frames and installed it on the Skier with few problems. It looks very good. Note : even though the replacement ¼” glass is flat, the bent windshield frames curve it into the normal windshield profile. In my opinion, only a discerning person knowledgeable of American Skier boat windshields would know the difference. I look forward, with trepidation, to see how my $800 windshield performs.
The items to note are my original American Skier 1988 Advance windshield was made with 5/16” curved tempered glass. The replacement windshield was made of thinner ¼” flat tempered glass. The replacement manufacturer needed over double the promised turn-around time. The shipping cost of the replacement glass is a significant cost. After ½ season with the “new” glass, I’m a little less richer, but currently satisfied.
The information presented above is informational only, as I neither endorse, nor disparage, any manufacturer listed above. I am merely one of those many skiers desiring to hang onto a rope behind an American Skier….............
