Tinted Windows

[Original Wing Nut]

I am thinking of having windows tinted. Mainly for looks, but also for those early morning sunrise rides and also sunsets when the glare off the water is in your face. Has anybody got pics or opinions. Is there laws like in vehicles, do they need to see my smiley face or what? Can I go limo dark? Let the opinions fly. Thanks in advance.

[talltigeguy]

I personally think it looks very cool in the daytime, but is a bling factor that has no real utility - it's just for show. I doubt it would really help much to cut down glare, although I've never been in a boat with it.

It may actually be detrimental for the post sunset riding when you need that visibility. (Not that I would know, because it's illegal to ride in Utah after sunset!:) )

[TeamAllen]

I have seen some tiges with tinted windows at our annual regatta. They look better. I asked one guy we were next to and he just said you need to be careful where you take it to have it done. Because the wrap around is difficult. He said try a place that deals with Hondas. I guess Honda has a tough glass to tint, I haven't had it done but my window tinting guy said he would have to see it before he gave me a price.

[dslkd]

I was wanting to do this to my 22V also if anyone has done this what % of light trans was used and any pics would be great. I would like to see one with the tint before i decide to go through with it.

[Tige M.D.]

my opinion, it looks great. as for it being functional, it's worthless. a good pair of polarized sunglasses will do better for the glare off the water than the tint will. the boats that i have driven with tinted windows (dozens on lake tests) you can not see through the tint when the sun is reflecting off the dash. just doesn't work. would i do it on my boat? hell yes, as someone said earlier BLING factor.

[joe8395]

I have a 2000 21i and I'm really considering tinting the windshield and I'm also thinking about pulling the pin strip decals off the boat and just leaving the 'Tige' decal on the back and that wing looking thing in the center of the boat on both sides.

I've seen a couple boats in CL with tinted windshields....it's HOOOOTTTT

[Matt Garcia]

Originally posted by talltigeguy
I personally think it looks very cool in the daytime, but is a bling factor that has no real utility - it's just for show.

It may actually be detrimental for the post sunset riding when you need that visibility. (Not that I would know, because it's illegal to ride in Utah after sunset!:) )

I aggree. Its just for show, I have been in many boats with them and find them hard to see through. I find myself looking over the window with boats that have tinted windows because the visibilty is cut down, especially during dawn and dusk hours.

[Beau McCrory]

regarding seeing thru the tint: maybe using a little less than limo tint?? Maybe street legal stuff or somewhere between....

[Tige M.D.]

hey wing nut, how much was that boat cover? i dig it.

[cmb22V]

I have mine done... I like it a lot but did not go real dark. And, it does help a bit with cutting out glare but you do suffer at night.

No good pics of that, but there are a couple in here"

http://www.christopherbryant.com/gallery/Flint-April-05?page=1

[b/w05]

cmb22v,

I looked at the link you gave, are those alligators/crocodiles at the edge of the water?

[Matt Garcia]

cmb,

nice gallery, looks like some good times and good riding.

[dslkd]

CMB22V Do you know what % they are and are the side windows tinted in one of the pics they don't look like it but in the others they do the boat looks sweet with the tint

[Tim]

Wing Nut
I had my 22v windows tinted. I had an 80% tint applied. The installer had a very difficult time appling the drivers side widow. He kept interfering with the sterring wheel so I finally had him install it on the outside of the glass. (all others were installed on the inside) Who ever does the install has to be very careful not to wrinkle the film on the bottom coners of the curved glass.

As for why I installed it? Because it looks good. I dont find that it cuts down on glare and it is difficult to see through at nignt. But it sure looks good on a sunny day.

I also think it would look Awsome on your boat.

Sorry no pictures, yet.
Tim

[cmb22V]

It is pretty light tint, but I can not remember what % it is. I did not want to not be able to see out of it... But it is all on the inside. There is a guy here in Atlanta that does a lot of boats. The curvature makes it tough.

And yes, there are gators on the Flint River. But, we had no run ins. There is a stretch where no one tries tricks, you just hang out and get through 'gator alley'.

[Tige M.D.]

GATOR ALLEY!!!!!! WHAT THE "F" IS THAT ALL ABOUT? you guy's are almost as crazy as the guy with the tige tattoo. i have only seen those giant lizards on t.v. but i am quite sure if i saw one in person, i would definitely crap my shorts.

riding with gators, DAMN!

[cmb22V]

"they are more afraid of you than you are of them" or something like that :). I will say I thought I never would. I moved out here from CO, and TX before that. Gators in the water was not an issue I had to contend with... But, since the river is butter all day every day, I can deal with a little gator sitting on the shore. What scares you is when they drop into the water as you cruise past...

[Tige M.D.]

i guess there is a reason for the water being like butter all day, everyday. maybe "butter" is the wrong word for this discussion. i like butter on alot of the food i eat:D

so, what do you do if you fall and one of those timid gators is near by, checking out lunch(you)? i've been in the water with a rattlesnake swam by at silverwood lake, kind of got my attention, at lake shasta i had a black bear about 20 feet from me in the water. talk about walking on water, holey crap those things swim fast. at least with them you see death coming at you.

[Original Wing Nut]

I am going for 80% from what I've seen I have to have it. I have an appointment on the 17th. I leave for Powell on the 19th and wil get some shots of it then and post. I am also having a Clear Bra 3m type material put on the transom just above the platform to protect against the spazms that some people have putting on a board. Will post pics of that as well.

[Jr05]

Limo Tint 2002 22I
I feal it's too dark but
my son LOVES IT.

[Laketrash]

That looks sweet! I've got to get mine done now!

[Tequilasun]

To the guys that have had this done:

Those of you that the installer had trouble with the curve of the window. Did the installer lay the film on the outside of the window first, then heat it with a hair dryer? Thats what we used to do on curved windows, it really makes the film conform to the shape better. IMO it makes the install super easy.

I just wondered if this was the problem, or if it was just a space issue.

[Jr05]

When I had it done, the kid cut it, and shrinked it with a heat gun on the outside, and scraped all the wrinkles out, then applied it to the inside. The curve was an issue, he had to try around 4 times on the drivers side before he got it right.

[Tige M.D.]

why is the driver side the issue. i have never tinted a window before, but i get the the idea on how it is done. we had a guy come in and tint a customers windows on a 24v and he had to come back with his boss to do the driver side window. what's the difference between the two curved pieces (port and stbd)? you think they would both be a pain.

[TeamAllen]

Maybe beacuse the dashboard is in the way making it difficult to reach in there?

[Frielinb]

How much did it cost to tint the windows?

[Jr05]

I talked the kid into trying it, at first he was nervous and unsure if he could do all of the windows. (With the drivers side in mind) He only ended up charging me $100, due to the fact that it took way longer than he had imagined, and plus he felt as if he could of done a better job, but I was more that satisfied. A heads up to any of yall looking to get it done, if the person has never done a boat before, tell them to cut the tint a little bit bigger than perfect, and to heat shrink it on the outside of the window.

[Original Wing Nut]

I have not had the tinting done yet. When I had it scheduled my dealer had not gotten some things done I wanted or felt I needed, Fuel gauge issues. I left the boat at the dealer for four more days, then left for Powell. My boat has been back at the dealer since I got back and I will pick it up once again the day before I leave. I was quoted $250 for the tint and clear bra on the transom. I know of others who have paid less, I don't know anyone in the know on this. So I think that is a fair price for material and at least half a days pay.

[talltigeguy]

BTW,

I thought of you when I saw this boat: