Oops ....center windshield surprise........
 

Sunday - time to repair the center swing out windshield section.
Missing lower hinge spacer, and missing wire section.

Found the right gauge, thread and tapped gently in, and wire hinge fixed.
Fabricated a new spacer, and window fixed.

But wait.....screwing the 2nd stainless screw into the spacer and POP, the windshield shatters. Screw dug right up against the glass. Nice how perfectly uniform it shattered too - that's safety glass at work.

Getting a new glass installed, and this time a shorter screw and should be good as new
( likely better )

Two steps forward, one back. That's boating.

You're lucky if it's only a thousand.

Three weeks to get tempered glass so here's the plan............

I'm going to cut a piece of plexi and fit for now, then order the tempered.

If the plexi performs well, I might leave it in for the balance of this season.
Can't match glass though - plexi is much....MUCH softer material.

I ran a boat with a homemade plexi (lexan actually) windshield for several years. If you're careful with it it will last you a long time. The main secret is to NEVER just wipe it. Always flood it with fresh water before and during cleaning it.. that way you avoid the scratches from the salt and grime. Gentle strokes with a soft brissel boat brush work best.

Thanks D - another good tip from you

Went with the real thing - safety glass installed in my center hinged windshield.

Fixed the hinge section myself with a new spacer and proper gauge wire.

Done. Yeh, that's a good thing.