Monster Spoiler for Boat-Tail?
 

Hello -

I'll bet you could use a monster spoiler as a frame for a boattail. Here is a before/after :

https://home.earthlink.net/~cfg83/gas.../boattail2.jpg

The "roof" portion of the boat-tail could be clear plexiglass for visibility.

The example above is not good because the car is a coupe. You can't open the trunk!!!!!

This would work better on a hatchback, where the boat-tail is attached to the hatch.

CarloSW2

That's a damn good idea! Spoilers are cheap due to the rice/market saturation, just adjust the height so you don't go past 15 degrees, and the entire thing has to slide into/out of place and secure easily. But I think it could be done.

That is a great idea! brilliant!

I haven't really thought this thru other than looking at the picture. So my question is this, would it create a blind spot?

ketelOne -

In the picture above, yes (that is exactly what my co-worker said). But the sides could be plexiglass too, and I think a well made boattail, by definition, will have to address the issue of a blind spot. If I had the above installed, I would go with panoramic rear view mirrors and the 3 inch convex fish eye mirrors (I already use these on my normal SW2).

This would be another form of the blind spot issue, along with the threads dealing with removing the side view mirrors (what a drag!).

CarloSW2

Overall it is a great idea.

On a side note........

My yaris ends up with more dead bug bodies on the mirrors than even the front end.

theclencher -

D'OH!

From what I have seen of other boattails on the other threads, the "back" appears to be open. A stick with a mop or a squeegee at the end would be helpful, assuming you are standing behind the car in a parking lot. If it were a really good design with good seals, not much rain would "get inside". However, I agree that there is a likelihood that it would be high maintenance.

CarloSW2

VG claim less dirt on the back end of boxes so it may stay cleaner

Why not leave a few inch gap in the clear top where it meets the body? That way rain can get through, but the flow can seperate at the rear of the car where there's less area, hopefully.

omgwtfbyobbq -

Is that compatible with the concept of the boattail? Isn't the idea to make the air flow over the top and off the end? Also, wind going under at speed could rip the boattail off.

CarloSW2