Where to find stainless drip guard?

jgsteven · #1 (**permalink**) 03-03-2009

Hi sailnet,

I am looking for a cheap little part that SOMEBODY has got to make, but I can't find one for sale anywhere.

The part I am looking for is a little stainless steel drip guard about 12" long by 3" wide that I can screw onto the boat above my instrument panel. I am looking for a way to keep rain water (or spilled cockpit beer) from running directly over the panel.

Think 'those plastic things you put on car windows to allow you to open your window in the rain" -- except in stainless and with screw mountings.

Does anybody know where to buy such a thing, or what it would be called? Google on "drip guard" or "rain guard" didn't find anything useful...

Thanks,

Joe

scottyt · #2 (**permalink**) 03-03-2009

yellow pages sheet metal manufacture, i bet you could get one made to your exact idea foe 20 bucks or so. or get a piece from a supplier and go to a window installer they have a sheet metal break and could do for a 10 buck tip

fullkeel7 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-03-2009

Joe, Not knowing the location of your panel, I still like the simplicity of what you have planned. If you have your heart set on stainless you might want to use something on the order of .050 or more. That way you or your fabricator can break the sheared edge of the downturned flange and put maybe a nice radius on the corners. When sheet stainless is cut (usually sheared) it leaves a very sharp edge that's extremely hard on soft tissue. On thin stainless .020-.032 even if the sheared edge is broken and smooth, it can still inflict serious cuts.

Another thought...how about plexiglass. The edges are easily smoothed and your instruments can be viewed from above. FWIW.

jgsteven · #4 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009

Finally found what I was looking for, which is cheap and looks nice.

Beckson Marine makes a "External Rain Shield" for their opening ports, which fits my needs perfectly. I thought I would post here in case anyone is looking for something similar.

I wish it were stainless and not plastic, but it only cost $25 or so and as such I can't really complain.

--
Jgsteven

fullkeel7 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-11-2009

Always good to read about a successful conclusion to a problem. Doesn't always happen here, so thanks for the post and congrats on the fix.