It was just about a year ago that the starboard windscreen wiper broke. Of course this is the helmsman’s wiper just to be extra inconvenient. Now, we have not had need for it so far this season but it really bugs me when something doesn’t work right on the boat. Well, finally, when temperatures cooled down a bit I set to work to try to fix this once and for all. To recap, I had figured out that the access was through the electrical panel and the wiper system was visible and even touchable but the attachment method was a mystery. So, armed with a nice bright trouble light and George’s new inspection camera with the flexible camera wand and light we had a better look Our first look with this did show a hidden screw from the bracket into the wooden block. It was very difficult to get at. After much musing and a beer or 2, occurred to us that there may be better access through the day head, going in above the head-liner.
So, like most panels on this boat, the fasteners for the headliner are hidden. A few tugs showed me that there seemed to be on the aft edge. Assuming they were the plastic “Christmas tree” plastic fasteners, I set to work trying to pry the headliner down without damaging the vinyl. Finally, with a good pull it was down and low and behold, it was held with hidden screws. Really?? Is that how every headliner panel is held in place? They have a small ‘flap’ of the vinyl that you can pull back to access the screw. Then you have to tuck the flap into the edge gap and presto – hidden. Anyway, with the panel down and the AC ducting disconnected I set to work to cut away the forward fiberglass panel above the headliner (so the hole would be hidden). Once that was removed it was pretty clear that I was not going to gain access the wiper this way. So, I put it all back together and considered it a learning exercise. Back into the electrical panel with the camera we figured the screw had to come out, regardless of how hard it was to get at. So, taking turns we finally had the screw removed. Then up on deck we removed the nuts holding the shaft housing in place. Back into the electrical panel again and getting tired and scraped up contorting to use screwdrivers, we finally removed the 2 screws through the angle bracket at the end of the wood block. Low and behold, the wiper motor came out. The wiper shaft had separated from the arm linkage. A quick trip to a local machine shop we use at work that following week had the shaft welded back in place. The following weekend, knowing how it was actually held in place, we had it re-installed in about 40 minutes. Hmm, a year to remove and 40 mins to reinstall. But in summary, it is fixed and working great and the total cost was $0.00. That has to be a first for boat repair!
By the way, I did finally locate the supplier of these wiper systems and while I was able to repair ours, the small linkages and parts are not too bad a price.
http://store.amequipment.com/
This sort of shows the extent of the access challenge. The silver blob is the wiper motor and bracket. The screws are in behind it and not visible from this side.
The wiper motor and bracket when finally removed for repair.
The A/C ducting and wiring disconnected in the ill-fated attempt to access the wiper from the day head.
With the motor removed. The 'white' hole is daylight where the shaft housing passes through the deck
One of the surprise screws holding the headliner in place. Good to know if I ever have to remove more head-liners but identifying the location is a challenge.
The flap of vinyl that pulls away to magically reveal the screw head.
Screwed back in place with the flap of vinyl showing
With the flap tucked back in place the fastening method is invisible.
