DIY windscreen

[Mainerider]

So what do you guys think? I made this tonight from a piece of Polycarbonate I got at Home Depot for $7.50
The protective plastic is still on in case I want to reshape it a bit. I thought I'd take a ride with it clamped in place temporarily to see how it feels before I drill holes and mount it permanently.

[montmil]

Looks good. Height should provide decent wind protection.

One thought regarding your test ride; depending on speed, there will be some serious air pressure on the screen. Without some sort of attach point/s above the headlight area, the screen will try to rotate around the clamped points shown in your photos. Might be safer to go ahead and utilize the existing mounting holes in the lower fairing.

I cut down a shield on my Triumph and used wet 100 through 400+ grits to give the edges a nice finish. I have also used a small butane torch to play the flame over sanded plastic edges to get an unbelievably smooth, glossy finish. Try it on some scrap plexi first as it takes a practiced hand.

Tell us about that boat project...

[Luca]

That looks really nice!  The contours compliment the bikini fairing.  If I saw that on the street, I'd think it was all from the same manufacturer.

However, like Monte, I would not trust those clamps to deal with any real speed.  You can clearly make a nice looking windshield... I'd just go ahead and mount it.  Cut it down if you need to, make another if this is too short.

If you really must clamp it and test, I'd use some sort of screw type clamp (like a common C-clamp).  They do a much better job than the quick-action ones you've got on right now.

[AlfromNH]

Looks good from here!  8-)

[Mainerider]

Thanks, guys. There are no existing mounting holes. I'll be making my own. I think I'll look for some nylon bolts. I think they'd look better than stainless.

The boat project is something I've been working on with my daughter. We built the hull when she was a senior in high school but it has stalled since she went off to college. She gets back from freshman year soon so we hope to get it finished over the summer. It's a Deer Island Koster Class designed by a friend. I've built a boat with each of the kids, sort of a life lesson, getting them to learn to use their hands and create something they can use and be proud of.

[steve hawkins]

I am also into clinker sailing boats.

Here is me and my lad in a National 12 that is almost as old as me.

And my daughter is another national 12 that nearly as old as my dad.

[ShutterPilot]

Wow - building a boat with your kids is so cool, how lucky are they?
Yeah, screen looks great, but the skip-building is way cool.
Always nice to get a peek into someone's garage, ya never know what cool stuff is going on in there.

[balibeemer]

Great Screen - looks like it came off a stealth fighter!

[mrbuck]

Very nice work especially with polycarb.  What type fairing is that?  I have one I think in the garage I bought for a Suzuki I once owned.

[Mainerider]

Thanks, my fairing is the stock BMW one. They called it a Cockpit Cover. I am definitely enjoying it. I didn't do much highway riding going to last weekend's rally but I did some. The buffeting on my chest was much reduced. I think I'll keep it.

The polycarbonate was pretty easy to work with. It cut on the tablesaw and bandsaw without any chipping. Bending it was easy, too. I clamped it in a vise and clamped a board 1/4" from the top edge of the vise. Then I pointed a heat gun at the 1/4" space while putting some pressure on the sheet. When it got hot enough it just folded right over. A little belt sander work and it was done.