splash guards

[saskfish]

Has anyone made their own splashguards for their boat. I'd be interested in a pattern or some ideas as I do not really feel like paying $100-200 US for two pieces of plexiglass and rubber!
Thank you

[Mike]

When you look at the price of a good quality commercialy made splash guard compared to the cost of other accy's on your boat(fishfinders,gps,electric trolling motors,rod holders,vhf radios,etc.)there actually a pretty good buy and very functional as well as being a safety item and enhance the appearence of your boat.I felt the same way you do,it dos'nt seem as though your getting much for your money(material wise)but after using them there worth every penny!I prefer Wave Wackers but if you want to save money look at the Whitecaps.

[Mattman]

Unless you have some Polycarbonate on hand right now you should take a look at the cost. You can be looking at up to $20 a square foot! Different grades run at different prices but acrylic isn't cheap.

www.whitecapmfg.com Great pricing

[St Croix Boy]

I will be installing a homemade set this weekend. I was lucky to have a friend with access to some smoked lexan for free. I made cardboard templates and atatched them to the boat, customized them MANY times untill I was satisfied with the shape and fit. I'm not sure how hard it is to cut the stuff cause my buddy did that at his work. As for atachment, we are going to wing it. Use 1/4 in. bolts 3in. long through transom, with washers for spacers. (Stainless hardware). Probobly 3 across bottom and 1 in top corner.
Store bought gaurds have special brackets for atachment. I would recomend looking at some professionally installed ones first. I tried, but no one around here has them. I'm really not worried about drilling a few holes in my boat. I think they will look great, but I'm sure putting them on will turn out to be a bit@h. I will post back here to let you know how it went.
One thing my gaurds will not have, is the backwards curve on the top lip. I'm too chicken to try the "heat an bend" method.
Good luck, and if you have any ideas to help me out with the atachment, let me know.
St Croix Boy

[Hawgeye]

When I bought my first boat, it was a Lund 16 Dlx, I made some out of an industrial office floor mat that is used under chairs at a desk. This was really stiff material that I used and I formed it with an acetalyne (sp?) torch. It was a clear material but became opaque after heating. I then went to Mac's and bought a strip of that stiff conveyor belt rubber. This really worked well. They did not look as nice as the production kind but definately were functional. If I was to do it over again, I would have bought the Whitecaps. Of course they didn't exist at that time. I now have Wavewackers and since I have become older with a better cash flow, will have no other brand unless something changes with the income....good luck.

Considering that they don't have to be clear, a peice of light metal may work as well. Maybe a peice of aluminum like that of a road sign, tough to form but a possibility. (ps: not suggesting to go get yourself a road sign! :) !

[chrism]

To cut, try one of those cheap masonary blades for a circ saw/table saw...they cut through lexan/plexiglass like a hot knife through butter!

[Slameye]

LAST EDITED ON May-10-01 AT 07:28PM (CST)[p]I wonder how hot that aluminum will get in the sun! Ouch! I wouldn't touch my skin to it!

Although if you attached a drip pan to it, you could have bacon an eggs every morning in your boat!

[Wally]

I just bought a set of whitecap splashguards and are VERY happy with how they turned out. I, like you, wanted to make my own, but after pricing out the polycarbinate and neopreme, it would have cost almost as much to make my own. If you do make your own, use polycarbinate and NOT plexiglass. It cost a little more but will last forever. Thanks
Wally

[Hawgeye]

Slameye,
I forgot to mentioned the thermostat attached to coils running through the ice cooler! This will keep your cooler warm and your splashguards cool! :)

[Still Embarressed]

When I was a little kid,I remember my dad making a set out of white painted plywood and a piece of rubber from an out grocery store check out conveyer belt.The only thing good about them was they were high enough to hide behind so no one could see you.Spend the money,trust me its worth it.

[St Croix Boy]

Well, I put on the home made gaurds yesterday and the look SWEET!
My buddies want me to make some for there boats now. It is not too hard to do. The key is finding some good polycarbonate such as Lexan. It is pretty expensive.

[jerryr]

Ditto on the Whitecaps. I considered making a set also, but the Whitecaps are very reasonable. I put a set on my boat 3 weeks ago and just finished a trip to Erie. They look great, are heavy duty and were very easy to install. I'd recommend that route. Good luck!