Windshield wipers?

[BD]

The wiper unit on my 1985 V-20 is ridiculous. It has some small end on the shaft which will only take these tiny little marine blades leaving about 6 square inches of visibility. I would really like to replace the wiper unit with something that takes a regular automotive type arm and blade so I can choose the max blade length for the job. Anyone been through this before? BD

[reelapeelin]

BD, is there a way to "sleave" the shaft so the larger "automotive" arm will tighten down on the smaller shaft?...it would have to be a near-perfect fit w/a cut taken outta the sleave so it tightens down, but it sounds doable...otherwise, maybe put an automitive wiper-motor in place of the smaller marine one...might work w/some backyard engineering... :)...

[macojoe]

a windsheild wiper on a V20 is like having them nortons on that back of my truck!! USELESS!!

Put a couple coats of RainX and never worry about a wiper again!

[chumbucket]

windsheild wipers on boats are a pet peeve of mine. Why the hell can't a boat company put a decent wiper setup on any boat rather than the piss poor excuses available now. It's not like the technology hasn't been invented yet. Just make them out of better corrosion resistant components, seal the motor and give us decent arms and blades. While they're at it, give us a decent fresh water washer too. That doesn't even need to be motorized. All they need is a pressurized container with a pump knob.
Even my former Grady-White had a poor excuse for a wiper. >:(

[reelapeelin]

It just doesn't seem that hard to adapt an automotive wiper motor and shield it from the elements...then you could put any size blade ya want on it... :)...

[BD]

The major problem with standard automotive wiper motors is that they are set up for remote mounting under the cowling where they actuate a set of linked arms. In my V-20 these linked arms would cross the passway to the bow. You also have the issue of of the arc of operation. Most car wipers operate through a range of 90 degrees or more. The V-20 needs an arc of 30 to 45 degrees. I can live with a wiper on the right only. So far I've only found one unit on the net and it's $179 just for the motor unit! I take the boat to work whenever possible. The company buys the gas as I'm transporting other workers as well. Not coming home because it's pouring rain is not a viable option. BD

[BD]

reelapeelin', The unit on the boat is barely up to keeping it's tiny little blade in motion. Also, it operates through an arc of 100 degrees or so. If I put a longer arm on it the arm would sweep off the windshield on both sides. BD

[macojoe]

you can always get a wiper motor off the back of a car. They have a shorter range and they not need to mount under the cowling.

This of corse if you are really going to fix it???

[reelapeelin]

BD...you get to drive your V20 to WORK...Man, how cool is that...what are you like the mailman onna lake or somethin'?...

No Kiddin'...I was dreamin' my way thru some big sportfishin' pics earlier...saw one w/ wipers on the windshield that were size appropriate for a 32'er...much larger unit than the ones at West Marine or Boaters World...so you've just been lookin' in the wrong stores...think YACHT, and probably at a YACHT PRICE...are you anywhere near any of the bigger commercial ports?...

Plus, MJ's got a good idea in post above...but like he said, it's gonna take some doin'...maybe one off the back of a van or suv... ;)

[Crusher]

BD, Use Rain X forget about the wipers, works great on boats. Don't use it on your vehicle, glare from headlights is to much. Crusher

[steplift20]

you gotta be kiddin forget the blades put on glasses and keep a wrag in yoiur hand
or carry an umbralla with yoyu

[reelapeelin]

Aw c'mon, guys...if this guy WANTS a windshield-wiper, let's figger out a way for him to have a windshield wiper...still think the YACHT-SIZE is what you're lookin' for... ;) ;D...

[Franco]

I think the reason the blades are so short is because they have such a wide arc on the sweep. You need to look around and find a wiper that has two arms, one is attached to the motor and the other is pinned next to it, that way the blade always stay on the same plane and you can use a longer blade, look for an old truck or bus wiper set up.

[BD]

I'm in Northern Maine, working a job on the north end of a 30 mile long lake, I live on the south end. Every Monday I run the boat up the lake and pick up four or five guys going to the same job. During the week I leave the boat at a town further up the lake where I can drive to the boat and make a 10 minute run to work, saving 35 miles of dirt road each way. Fridays I bring it back down the lake to gas up and run arround for the weekend with my family. I'd like to push this arrangement into September as far as possible, which will require a real wiper of some kind. I've used rain-X before. It works OK for awhile, then one day it doesn't. Plus a wiper just makes sense. I did an informal survey of rear window wipers today, 100% of the ones I saw operated through a complete 180 degree arc which won't work on the V-20. It seems like I may have to go with the Ongaro (sp?) unit with a double rod arm for about $200. This does go against the strong Yankee grain in my soul. Seems like $200 ought to buy a lot more than a windshield wiper. BD

[Franco]

Hey BD, maybe you can just use the parallel arm kit - check this out
http://www.go2marine.com/g2m/action/ViewSkuList/categoryId/12618/blades_windshield_hardware.html