Windscreen Wipers

Marine windscreen wipers: visibility from the helm

A boat windscreen wiper is not a car wiper adapted for the job. It works with salt water spray rather than clean rain; its motor has to cope with permanent damp and its arm has to clear the usable sector of a screen that is almost never flat.

At Repuestos Marinos you will find complete marine wipers and every part separately: 12V and 24V motors, straight and pantograph arms, replacement blades, shafts, bushes and switches.

Types of marine wiper

Straight (pendulum) arm. The most common and the cheapest. The arm pivots on the shaft, sweeping an arc. Simple, reliable and enough for most leisure boats.

Pantograph arm. An articulated linkage keeps the blade parallel to the base of the screen throughout the sweep, clearing a much larger and more rectangular area. It is the right choice on large wheelhouses and rectangular screens.

Self-parking motor. When you switch it off, the arm always returns to the park position instead of stopping halfway through the sweep. Practically every current motor has it and it is worth insisting on.

Single or two-speed motors and, on some models, an intermittent sweep function. For running in constant spray, two speeds is a comfort worth having.

How to choose the right wiper

Arm and blade length. Measure the usable radius from the point where you will fit the shaft to the edge of the screen, leaving a safety margin so that the blade does not touch the frame at the end of its sweep.

Sweep angle. Marine motors typically offer sweeps of 65°, 80°, 90° or 110°. Choose the one that covers your field of vision without running off the glass.

Screen thickness and shaft length. The shaft passes through the screen or the frame, so you need to know the thickness in order to order the right shaft length. It is the measurement that causes the most returns.

Voltage. 12V or 24V, depending on the boat's electrical system. Check the current draw too, so you can size the fuse.

Materials. Look for AISI 316 stainless steel arms and shafts and motor housings with proper protection. On an open bridge, a motor that is not sealed well enough lasts no time at all.

Installation and maintenance

Mount the motor inside, protected from direct spray, and seal the shaft penetration properly with its gasket and washers. Leave a drip loop in the wiring so that water cannot travel down the cable into the motor.

Never run the wiper on a dry screen: crystallised salt acts as an abrasive and scratches acrylic or glass, as well as ruining the rubber within a few sweeps. Fit a washer system or wet the screen first.

Replace the blades at least once a season, or sooner if they start smearing. Clean the shaft and grease it lightly with marine grease so that salt does not seize it. Check the tightness of the arm nut: if it vibrates, it eventually rounds off the splines on the shaft and then the whole assembly has to be replaced.

Warranty and 24-48 h shipping

We stock complete marine wipers and all their spare parts separately, so you can replace just the blade, the arm or the motor depending on what has failed.

Shipping in 24-48 h to mainland Spain and the Balearics, 3-5 days to the Canary Islands and the rest of the EU. Orders placed before 14:00 leave the same day. Returns within 14 calendar days, plus technical support by phone and WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions about marine wipers

Can I fit a car windscreen wiper on a boat?

It is not advisable. A marine wiper works with salt water spray and permanent damp, so its motor, shafts and fasteners are made from corrosion-resistant materials, normally AISI 316 stainless steel. An automotive mechanism seizes up very quickly in a marine environment.

What is the difference between a straight and a pantograph arm?

The straight or pendulum arm pivots on the shaft, sweeping an arc: it is simple, reliable and inexpensive. The pantograph has an articulated linkage that keeps the blade parallel to the base of the screen throughout the sweep, clearing a much larger and more rectangular area. The pantograph is the right choice on large wheelhouses.

How do I know what shaft length I need?

The shaft passes through the screen or the frame, so you have to measure the thickness at the exact point where you plan to fit it. It is the measurement that causes the most returns, so check it before ordering. You also need the usable radius from the shaft to the edge of the screen in order to choose the arm length.

Why does my wiper leave smears?

Usually because the blade rubber has hardened or been damaged, something that salt and sun accelerate considerably. Replace it at least once a season. If the smearing persists with a new blade, check the pressure of the arm on the screen and make sure there is no silicone or wax residue on the surface.

Can I use the wiper on a dry screen?

No. Crystallised salt on the screen acts as an abrasive: it scratches acrylic or glass and ruins the rubber within a few sweeps. Fit a washer system or wet the screen before switching it on.

How often does a marine wiper need servicing?

Change the blades every season. Clean the shaft and grease it lightly with marine grease so that salt cannot seize it. Check the tightness of the arm nut, because if it vibrates it eventually rounds off the splines on the shaft and forces you to replace the whole assembly.