Wind screen wipers on the EC 360

Chuckvec

We took possession of our 2009 Express Cruiser 360.  During the survey the surveyor noted that there were no wind screen wiper arms or blades.  When we asked the seller about them, he said they were not there when he got the boat from the previous owner. He said he has never used them, uses Rain X on windscreen and that is all.  What do you EC owners have to say about that?  We are on salt water, and getting caught in storms is possible.

Handymans342

Get them

Dream_Inn

First off, welcome to the forum and you have a great looking boat.  What color is the hull?  Just looks a bit different in the picture, but maybe it was the lighting. 

As far as wipers, I agree that you should get them.  I don't use mine often, but those few times you need them it was well worth having.

NavyCTRC

I removed mine and apply Rain X on a regular basis, so much cheaper and easier than buying new wiper blades all the time, plus no streaks, no lines on the glass after a rain storm.

Dream_Inn

I use rainx on mine regularly as well.  But, let me tell you, if you are in rough weather and get waves over top, the wipers are a must have.  Or, a high rain storm, again, they are a must have.  I don't use mine often (can count on one hand for the year), but when needed I'm thankful they are there.  You can just replace the rubber portion for just a couple dollars, no big deal.  One shouldn't have to go thru blades all the time.  In my 17 years of boating, I think I've replaced wiper blades 3 or 4 times.  I put something like 303 aerospace protectant on them once or twice a year.

NavyCTRC

Dream,

I had to change the blades wayyyy too often, I think the FL sun reeked havoc on them or something.  Maybe the salt water ruined them? They would leave ugly streaks across the windshield that had to almost be buffed off unless the blades were nearly new.  It got to be too much of a hassle to replace the blades and clean streaks on glass, Rain X solves both those problems.  In the few storms I have been caught in, between waves and rain, the wipers were nearly useless anyway, not fast enough to do any good.

Dream_Inn

Navy, makes complete sense.  I wouldn't go thru the hassle of changing mine out every year.  I think what helps is I have a canvas that I use instead of isinglass that covers the windshield and wipers.  So that probably saves some of the sun beating on it.  They're also covered from Nov - Mar each year too.

Chuckvec

thanks everybody for your answers.  The boat has an Awlgrip color now, not sure exactly what the color is.  Previous owner painted over the old maroon from Rinker. The boat was in Florida before, that is where the wipers were removed.  I will thnk about installing the arms and blades next season, keep the RainX on the windscreen and hope I don't need them wipers anytime soon.  Very helpful insights.