While boating with my family on a very sunny day last summer, my daughter left her smartphone on top of the dashboard. After only about 20 minutes, she went to use it, and it was displaying the temperature warning “iPhone needs to cool down before you can use it”. She also noticed that the Chartplotter unit was also very hot. My daughter asked me if we could tint the boat’s windshield? I did some research and want to share with you what I learned.
So can you tint boat windshield? The answer is Yes, you can definitely do it. Many boaters tint their windows to help reduce the heat inside the boat. Others only do it for looks.
Whatever your reason for wanting to tint your boat windshield is, there is some information you need to know and some factors you need to consider before making that decision. I’m going to share with you all I learned after doing some research.
But remember if you decide to tint your boat’s windshield, and after it is done, you don’t like it, it is not the end of the world. Window tint can be removed without leaving any evidence of it ever been there.
Is Boat Window Tinting A Good Idea?
The answer to this question is opinion-based. We are going to list the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.
Pros
- Help keep inside of the boat cooler.
- It provides more shade inside of the boat.
- Helps with dashboard deterioration (fade, cracks, etc.)
- Keep electronics cooler.
- Better visibility on electronics (less glare)
- Looks cool.
- Can leave smartphones or cameras on top of the dashboard without ruining them.
Cons
- Lower visibility while boating at night.
- Hard to install on curved glass.
- Can be expensive.
- Could be illegal in your state
How To Tint Curved Boat Windshield?
Spray some soapy water on the exterior of your windshield and wipe off really god. Rub a dryer sheet on windshield and let it dry. Unroll tint film on the exterior of the windshield, and with a new razor blade cut out the form of the windshield, as close to perfect as possible. Shape tint film using the “dry shrink” method.
Spray soapy water to the interior of the windshield and wipe off really good to remove any dirt or dust. Spray more soapy water on the cleaned windshield, peel clear film and place tint on the windshield. Run a squeegee through tints surface to get rid of excess soapy water and bubbles.
Tinting Boat Windows Inside Or Outside?
It would be easier to install the tint on the outside of the boat’s windows. The reality is that the tint film needs to be installed on the inside. Otherwise, you will be able to see inside the boat but not outside. Installing the tint on the outside will void its UV protection feature and expose it to possible scratches and damages. Although it is more complicated installing the windshield tint on the inside, it needs to go there to get the full benefits out of it.
Boat Window Tint Laws
There are many options to choose from on the market, darkness, reflectiveness, and color. There are also specific regulations that you need to be aware of before making your choice. These regulations vary from state to state but are very similar for the most part. Here is a summary of Florida’s regulations concerning boat window tinting.
Boat window tinting darkness law
- Front windshield window- a minimum of 28 percent of light should be allowed to pass through a tinted window. This is to allow sufficient visibility for the captain of the boat.
- Sides and back windows- a minimum of 15 percent of light should be allowed to pass through a tinted window. These windows tint can be darker because they are not as critical for the captain’s visibility as the windshield.
Boat window tinting reflectivity law
Reflective window tint offers better UV protection. This film has a metallic coating that will reflect most of the sun’s rays, leaving most of the solar heat out. This film will help keep the interior area cooler.
The maximum amount of reflectivity on all boat windows is 25 percent. Keep fellow boaters in mind if you choose to install reflective tint, the glare from your windows can temporarily blind them and potentially cause accidents.
You should consult your local state laws to find out if any other regulations apply before deciding the type of window tint to be installed in your boat.
Related Questions
Can You Tint Plexiglass? It is not recommended to install regular window tint to plexiglass, plastic or acrylic. These types of material release gas when exposed to heat, regular tint film will bubble up when this happens.
Not to mention this type of surface would be near impossible to prepare without scratching it.
The only type of film recommended to be used on plexiglass, acrylic or plastic windows is the peel and cling film.
How Much Does It Cost To Tint Boat Windshield? The price to have your windshield tinted varies a lot depending on location, size of boat’s windshield, and complexity of the job. Tinting a small flat surface will be a simple job, and shouldn’t be too pricey. Tinting a curved glass surface is a more complicated job and will be more expensive.
For example, a tinting a 21 feet bowrider curved windshield could cost between $250 to $400. tinting the same size boat a 21 feet bowrider with flat windshield could cost between $150 to $300
There is another option if you are handy and up to the task. You can turn to tint your boat windshield into a weekend DIY project. This could be a fun project to do with family or friends and can save you some money.
Is removing windshield tint easy? If your windshield tint film gets damaged or you get tired of it and don’t like it anymore, it’s ok. It can be removed. Window tint is not permanent, and you have a few options on how to remove it.
You can hire a professional to do the job. This will usually cost between $50 to $200 depending on the difficulty and size of the windshield.
You can also do it yourself and save some money. There are a few simple ways to accomplish this. You can try the hair drier method, the heat gun method, or the portable steamer method. With all these methods you are basically applying heat to the film which heats the glue, making it easy to pull off. Then spray some Windex on the glass to help remove any excess adhesive.