How much do the windscreens help on a power boat?
 

Hello

I'm considering buying a 20-25 ft boat like Baja Outlaw or 232, 22 Scarab or something in similar style. These powerboats typically don't have windshields which seems to be ok in hot climates. However, we do most of our boating in temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius (65-75 F) and it rarely goes higher than 80 F. At 70 F the wind gets you cold fast and I also don't like the way the wind goes into my ears even at 35 mph.

I've been trying to search the internet about how is the wind like in these boats with no windshield at all or just a windscreen, but that thing doesn't seem to interest any reviewers. Do the windscreens really make the air flow over your head (sitting down)? Or is it still more like riding a motorcycle? Sitting down in our daycruiser there's no wind at all and standing up there's too much, that's how I feel.

Any input appreciated, there are not so many powerboats around where I am and I don't know the boat people here anyway to get free rides. Do I have to forget Scarabs and Outlaws etc. and get a Baja 232 or a Stingray 220/225/230SX since they have windshields?

Many thanks.

Don't know about any other brand besides Nordic, but I will tell you...Nordic windscreens suck. They look cool, but suck. That's my contribution. Good luck!

I have windscreens on my Advantage and while it will reduce the amount of wind at speed, it in no way will "shelter" you from it! I'd say go with a Formula or such that has a true windshield. Windscreens do not eliminate the wind, only reduce.

Agree on the Nordic comment, even the windscreen on our 388 Slingshot, really only works if you are sitting down. These little windscreens that came on our Talon 25 are amazingly effective! They are custom made by the previous owner, not sure where he got them made, but they work, and there is no distortion looking thru them!

My formula windshield tops out at my chin when I am sitting. You have to duck down to get out of the wind. Most effective wind screen I have experienced is on a 27 fountain with the plexi glass. Once seated you feel no wind.

Velocity 260 & 280 with the full windshield sounds like they would be well suited to your needs. I previously had a 260 and the window was great. When you stood up you could/would get some wind in your face, but when seated you wouldn't feel the wind at all. Was also nice in the rain, you could duck down and look out the window and not get pelted in the forehead by rain, which feels like needles at speed.

My 22 Scarab had a factory windscreen and it worked great. Running 70 you had very little wind in your face.

I had a 28' Heat and the windscreen worked great, not sure what you're talking about. It did the most perfect job of directing the air directly in my face than any other product in the universe. :grinser010: I almost had to wear a full face helmet to deal with it. Wound up getting a set of Wind-Aways and they worked great. Nordic windscreens totally SUCK.

My flip-up wind deflectors in the PowerPlay worked pretty good. Even though you still got a good amount of wind, if you turned them down you really saw the benefit of having them up.

26 donzi zx with the factory deflector was perfect. The 292 formula with the windshield sucks unless I duck down.

My 22 Progression has pop up / adjustable wind deflectors for both the driver and passenger. They're amazingly effective when adjusted correctly. Are they as good as a full wrap around windshield? No, but I never run without them up.

Thank you for your views. Any opinions or experiences with the 20 or 25 Outlaws? I have to stick with mainstream models because of better availability.

I have flip up wind screens on a 33 Powerplay and love them. They work great.

Windscreen and windshield effectiveness depends on TWO things:

1) How tall they are.
2) How far in front of you they are.

Relevant example: passengers in the back seat of a convertible car have a much windier ride than the front seat. Same goes for boats, even more so.

You may have a windscreen or windshield, but if it is 2.3, or even 4 feet from your face when you are in the FRONT bolster/seat of the boat; they are often of negligible effect or totally useless.

You need to be tucked in behind it. If a windscreen, the closer you are to it, the better, so you can see over it; but it sends wind over your head.

The same goes for Baja windscreens.

Honestly I think you are more suited for a performance boat with a full windshield (as stated above) my 38 has a full windshield and I can have a conversation with the passenger running near triple digits. Only a full standing position gets wind in my face. It keeps me warm on cool days as well. The only thing it does that I don't like is take away the sense of speed from passengers that are used to non windshield boats :)
My 36 Baja had a small clear deflector that sent the wind directly into my eyes at speeds over 50, it was useless.

Some may not like the look of windshields on performance boats, but painting the frame to match the boat makes a huge difference in aesthetics. Googles and a helmet are another option :)

http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/...84358332_n.jpg

Take a look at how we put the 4 inch windsceens on the Active Thunders:
http://activethunderboats.com/index.htm

If we take it off, the boat pics up 1-2 MPH, so it's definitely "in the way" of the air stream.

At 70+mph, we can talk among the front bolster passengers at a conversation volume. Any faster than that, I don't want to be talking anyhow.