How to Make a Golf Cart Windshield

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Adding a custom clear vinyl windshield to your golf cart is a simple way to add a professional touch while keeping you protected from inclement weather. As part of our Golf Cart Remodel series, we're adding the final touches to our newly reupholstered golf cart with a clear vinyl windshield. This snap-on windshield provides protection from the elements when you want it, but can also be rolled up and kept out of the way on sunny days.

Video Chapters

Measuring for Required Materials — 1:34 min.
Cutting Facing and Sewing in Place — 4:01 min.
Sewing Binding on Edges — 7:43 min.
Marking for Snap Studs — 11:06 min.
Installing Gypsy Stud Snaps — 15:00 min.
Installing Pull-The-DOT^® One Way Snaps — 16:57 min
Installing Snap Sockets and Buttons — 19:27 min
Making Roll-Up Curtain Webbing Strap — 22:14 min
Materials List — 25:04 min

Materials List

Regalite^® 30 Gauge Vinyl Window Material 54" x 110" Clear - Item #103762
Top Gun^® Onyx Black 62" Fabric - Item #120397
Seamstick 3/8" Basting Tape for Canvas (50 yds.) - Item #129
PremoBond^®Tex 90 Black UV Bonded Polyester Thread 4 oz. - Item #123338
Top Notch^® 9 Polyester Bias Binding Tape Black - Item #120940
Blind Rivet for SnapRite^® Surface Die (Stainless Steel) - Item #103755
DOT^®Pull‑The‑DOT^® One Way Cloth‑to‑Cloth Stud (Nickel-Plated Brass) - Item #555100
DOT^® Snap Fastener Standard Cloth-to-Cloth Stud (Nickel-Plated Brass) - Item #333100
DOT^® Snap Fastener Normal Action Socket (Nickel-Plated Brass) - Item #333050
SnapRite^® Gypsy Stud 3/16" (Nickel-Plated Brass) - Item #104236
SnapRite^® Fastener Pull‑The‑DOT^® One Way Button 1/4" (Nickel-Plated Brass) - Item #104299
SnapRite^® Snap Fastener Button 11/64" (Nickel-Plated Brass) - Item #104151
Sunbrella^® Webbing 1" Black - Item #144408
Stainless Steel Washers

Tools List

Grease Marking Pencil Yellow - Item #111002
Gingher^® 8" Scissors Right Handed - Item #19104 / Left Handed - Item #19105
Comfort Grip Rotary Cutter 60mm - Item #965511
Sailrite^®Self Healing Double-Sided Cutting Mat 24" x 36" - Item #123113
Sailrite^®Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" - Item #102400
Deluxe 5-1/2" Magnetic Sewing Guide - Item #103597
Sailrite^® Ultrafeed^® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine - Item #311602
Sailrite^® 1" Swing‑Away Binder - Item #100103
Spring Clamp - Item #50211
SnapRite^® Surface Mount Stud Die - Item #103754
Sailrite^® SnapRite^® System Complete Kit - Item #104500
Sailrite^® Cutting Block & Die Holder - Item #121597
Sailrite^® Edge Hotknife Package (110V) - Item #103800
Sailrite^® Drill Hole Cutter 1/8" - Item #121817
1/8" Drill Bit, Drill, Marker, Straightedge, Tape Measure

In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to make a windshield for a golf cart using clear vinyl window material from Sailrite^®. You can also make your own rain curtains for the sides of your golf cart using the same principles as shown in this video.

To begin, we’ll need to take a width and height measurement of the area where the windshield will be installed. It’s recommended that you measure in a few locations to be sure it does not have an irregular shape. If it does, you may need to do some patterning to achieve the correct shape. This will also determine the amount of clear vinyl you will need. We offer several brands of high-quality clear vinyl, but for this project, we’ve chosen Regalite^® Vinyl Window Material (#103762), a 30-gauge press-polished window material with great optical clarity and durability ideal for marine and automotive applications.

Keep in mind that our best clear vinyl window materials are sold by the sheet, not by the yard. Here we used one sheet of Regalite 30, but it is sold in two different sheet sizes (we used the 54-inch x 110-inch size and had a lot left over). So it’s up to you to select the right sheet size or select a different brand of vinyl based on your project needs.

We’re also utilizing marine snaps to attach this curtain to our golf cart, as the windshield is designed to fold down or be rolled up and snapped in place. This tutorial will illustrate how to install gypsy snaps, one-way snaps and standard snaps, so you’ll have a few options to choose from. Installing snaps for our windshield was made quick and easy by using the Sailrite^® SnapRite^® System Complete Kit (#104500) in conjunction with the Sailrite^® Cutting Block and Die Holder (#121597).

The Sailrite SnapRite System Complete Kit is a unique snap fastener system created by Matt Grant (Sailrite owner). It features a set of four dies that work with a standard rivet gun to install button, socket, stud and eyelet snap fastener components with more ease, speed and precision than ever before. And with our handy cutting block, installation is a breeze.

The last step of our project is to add a roll-up webbing strap so you’ll be able to roll up the windshield panel and snap it in place. To accomplish this, you will need to drill a hole in the webbing and on the lip of the roof of your golf cart so that you can install a stud and washer to keep the webbing in place. Once again, the Sailrite SnapRite System comes in handy for securing our webbing strap. This step is optional as you can simply unsnap your windshield completely when not in use, but we chose the roll-up strap for convenient storage. The choice is yours!

By the end of our step-by-step tutorial, you’ll have a professional-looking golf cart windshield made from clear vinyl that will last for years to come. Sailrite has quality tools and materials for your next vehicle project, and the best part is the ability to customize every addition based on your preferences. Show us your golf cart remodel in the comments!