converting to quarter canopies
 

Has anyone ever done this? I noticed in HotBoat magazine a company called Acrylifab that manufactures the canopies that are used by builders such as Eliminator. Wondering if anyone with a stock windshield on a v-bottom has tried to make the mods necessary to convert to after-market canopies (assuming the company makes them). Thanks in advance for any replies.

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

Skater vee bottom will give you ideas. I have thought about it myself. Its a different look. In addition I think converting to sitdown buckets is the way to go.

I was considering these.http://www.racingshields.com/index.htm

If you decide to persue it I would love to hear and see your progress.

Good luck
Gerry

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

[QUOTE= was considering these.[URL]http://www.racingshields.com/index.htm[/URL]

Moochos Cheetos - those are expensive - I guess there is some art (cost) to making them without distortion - Thanks Gerry.

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

the material required to make them without distorting is some spendy krap. I heard the replacement cost on the ones Spectre uses is like 6K each :eek: :eek:

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

The ones I've looked through still distort for that price. :(

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

Does anyone know how to polish out scratches in them?

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

Shawn I have used starbrite plastic scratch remover and it works well. use with a buffer with a clean soft wheel. A foam pad worked well for me.
also.... I do have one new in the box uncut f16 canopie for sale cheap!!
See you soon Michael

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

Hey Michael. are you ready for the summer? I dropped the boat off in MD a week ago. A quick blast to Middle River with the smaller props got her to 107 with 5 people and a belly full of fuel. I have another set of props to test and I want to try running them outbound after I get a good feel for each set. Mine handles well inbound, but Jim suggested trying them outbound too, and he's right. I'll let you know.
Thanks for the advice on the starbrite. How much do you want for the canopy?

See you soon
Shawn

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

STANDARD WINDSHIELD SET (2 pieces)

1 - 3 Sets $2,479.43 each $4,958.46 per set

:eek:

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

Hey Shawn It seems you have that thing running the way it should, that is great I see the low teens in your future! In the water already, that must be some sort of record. I am close but I am not in a rush as the weather is not warm yet. I am looking to get $2000 for that canopie,or best offer I guess.
Michael

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

Check ouy tiger performance marine

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

At these prices, I'm almost embarassed to say that I was at Home Depot bending $15 sheets of Plexiglass and figuring how they might be inset into a custom piece of fiberglass, where the fiberglass piece would make up most of the desired shape of the canopy.

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

at least buy polycarbonate (lexan) it is nearly shatter proof compared to plexiglass..... :cool:

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

We make the quarter canopies out of acrylic and it's not easy because we make them to the exact dimensions of the F-16 so we can replace them. Fitting them on the boat is a real bear. F-16's mike out to .625" thick and they're full of compound curves. I've seen a couple of the ones on the market and they have less bulges so they get excellent optics. The genuine F-16's are laminated polycarbonate with a hard coating because the problem with poly is that it's soft, scratches easily and it's almost impossible to take the scratch out- if it's coated and scratched it's over but with the hardcoat it don't scratch easily. Acrylic on the other hand is easily repairable.
That's an excellent price for the canopy, by the way.
Making them yourself? it would be really hard because you need a good thickness for impact resistance, a mold and an oven to heat it. This is assuming that you do it with a single curve rather than a compound curve. There's a reason they're so expensive.
If anybody is interested I have a blurb that I wrote about canopies that goes into excruciating detail...

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

OK. I give. This is offically off my short list of things to do and onto my long list of things I can't do.

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

Acrylico ok I would like to read your blurb. Can you post a link?

The F16 canopies I have measure much closer to 3/4'' between .730-.750

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

I've got a set of Skater full canopies for sale in the classifieds if you're interested.

Fionn
[email protected]
510.541.8124

Re: converting to quarter canopies
 

Oops! sorry to cool your jets on that one!
mmwalters - sent you he blurb - it's a draft still...

Carlos