T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

[sstacey]

I have a 2008 Tahoe 215 CC with a stock bimini. However, I'm 6ft7 and an avid fisherman. Both bass fishing and salmon fishing. My better half is 5ft10 and both of us prefer our Gortex over putting up the bimini. I know, I know what you are thinking..... Where did a find her and does she have a sister!

So, we were admiring T Top boats and a online surfing lead us to the Striker T Top SG600. My boat is wrapped and in winter storage. I'm wondering if there were other Tahoe 215 CC owners out there and have two questions for them.

1. Anyone put a T Top on their CC?
2. Anyone with a Tahoe 215 CC and knows what the width of their console is?

I would like to order one before the quickly approaching boat season and need to know if its less than 50". I'm pretty sure it is and if anyone knows or can more easily tell me, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,

 

[LnCoyote]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

I don't have a T top on mine, sstacey, but I bet it would look sharp. I checked out the photos of the striker sg600 and it really looks cool on a variety of different hulls. I plan on going fishing both sat and sun this weekend since the temperatures are going to be in the 70's. I will try to measure then. I suppose you want measurements for length. Like from the gunwale side to other gunwale side??

 

[sstacey]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

You rock! LnCoyote, I greatly appreciate the offer! Still looking at melting snow and ice up here. For what little we have had. Ice fishing was a bust this year. Warmest winter in 20 years.

I'm actually concerned about the passing distance between the center console and the side of the boat. If I install the T Top which stands around the console, will I still be able to comfortably step by. Also, is the console itself under 50" in width, from left to right. That is the max width a console can be as I understand it. I believe I'm well under so its just the walk around clearance that I might want to take into consideration.

Fishing this weekend..... nice!!! I look out on the lake and see open water but still a great deal of ice. With the snow machines put away, I'm already eager to start boating activities. Come on Sun!

 

[LnCoyote]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

I measured at the base and about half way up the center console of our boat and it was 31 1/2 in. and 38 1/2 in respectively. I would say your well below the max of 50 inches. However, after walking around the console a few times trying to visualize a T top, I thought it would be very important for you to measure and gauge for yourself before you take the leap and order one. Although clearance seems adequate on the sides, front, and back, there is a place near tackle storage and the sink where it would be a tight squeeze.

If you decide to install one, I would love to see a picture of it.

 

[sstacey]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

Thanks very much for taking the time to measure for me. That is well within the clearance. We have had some record hot weather here and I managed to get the tarp off yesterday. I crawled under the boat cover tonight after reading your email and understand what you mean about the sink and the tackle box. Its what we expected and when I measure where the T Top will go, we are confident it will work. The boys have gotten older and the boat is pretty much a fishing boat for us now, so this will be the perfect addition. Fingers crossed, we are going to proceed with the order and installation. Promise to take some pictures of the Stryker T Top on a Tahoe 215 CC and post them for you. How was fishing? I'm jealous! Normally we are in the water in the first of May but at this rate we think we will be in the water two to three weeks early this season! The little boy in me is very excited to see this work and enjoy some salmon fishing this year.

 

[jameswh0]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

Thanks very much for taking the time to measure for me. That is well within the clearance. We have had some record hot weather here and I managed to get the tarp off yesterday. I crawled under the boat cover tonight after reading your email and understand what you mean about the sink and the tackle box. Its what we expected and when I measure where the T Top will go, we are confident it will work. The boys have gotten older and the boat is pretty much a fishing boat for us now, so this will be the perfect addition. Fingers crossed, we are going to proceed with the order and installation. Promise to take some pictures of the Stryker T Top on a Tahoe 215 CC and post them for you. How was fishing? I'm jealous! Normally we are in the water in the first of May but at this rate we think we will be in the water two to three weeks early this season! The little boy in me is very excited to see this work and enjoy some salmon fishing this year.

Got pics yet? I'd love to see some too! I'm thinking about getting a 215CC.

 

[sstacey]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

The T Top has been ordered and will be here at the end of the month. Also taking out the seats and installing a leaning post, adding a Garmin 720s and Radar. Its like waiting for Christmas! Promise to post lots of pics.

 

[sstacey]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

Just an updated..... Followed up with Stryker T Tops after seeing that my order shipped but no tracking number available. Was informed that it was an error and all the parts are not arriving at their warehouse until June 6th. Then shipping will be another 3 to 4 days. So the wait continues. Meanwhile, we have removed the two seats from our 215cc and replaced them with a Todd leaning post and optional backrest. Went on as quickly and as easily as the installation videos found online. Very happy with the leaning post. This week we will order the Garmin 720s chartplotter and Garmin18 radar. They will be added to the T Top when it arrives. This weekend we will pass some time by placing our downriggers in the back rod holders and do a little trolling. Better to be on the water than staring at a shipping screen and clicking....refresh....refresh....refresh.

 

[sstacey]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

T Top parts have arrived and look great. awaiting the flood lights and canopy in the last box that arrives Monday. Went to order the Garmin 720s and Radar but was blown away by the features, as well as the wifi and Bluetooth capabilities of the Raymarine E7D. They arrive tomorrow (Monday) as well. Have brother-in-law, someone experienced in marine electronic installations for the marine unit, coming over next Sunday for the upgrades. Will take lots of pics.

 

[whmoore18]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

That looks like it will be nice.....After just taking our 215 out 10 miles offshore out of Ocean City, MD we are thinking of some upgrades....we got her out there the waves turned a little wild but she picked her nose up and started beating away at those swells.....to be honest she breaks through 4-5 ft swells better than boat wake (weird) but once the wind laid down we got the 2-3ft swells the report called for and boy did that boat ride! On the ride from one wreck to another she was sliding across them swells at 30+ didn't jump she was just doing her thing man.....happy with my 215CC

 

[sstacey]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

whmoore18, Glad to hear your 215 has managed the rough waters so well. Promise to document and photograph our T Top and electronics upgrade. What kind of upgrades are you considering? Stu

 

[whmoore18]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

Well me and my dad who are the only ones who use the boat are 6'3" and 6'4" and with playing around in the Ocean City, MD inlet for striped bass on a hot day we are learning that bimini top is a little short for us. So we are waiting to see what your T-top looks like and might do that. Besides that we will probably get the Smart Craft stuff installed, a bow spot light to basically see our ride home at night cause our channels are tricky, and probably set up an NMEA network for our lowrance elite 5 fish finder. We will probably paint the hull too so I feel better around here (we have barnacles that will attach to your hull after a 1 week of no use). It's in a boatel where they pull it after each use and flush the motor for us and such but still a painted hull just is added support.

In the coming weeks I'm going to put two vertical rod holds in on either side of that ski tow post so I can add two more spots for our trolling rods for the fall stripped bass run out here. and then I may put a triple rod holder on the port side of the center console to hold my net and spinning rods when not in use (possibly the gaff too when fishing).

 

[sstacey]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

Well, after some delays in shipping and some even slower days of installation due to the heat, the T Top is on the boat, the Raymarine e7D is installed, the Raymarine 18 digital radar is mounted and the P58 transducer has replaced the old Garmin unit. I've also installed flood lights on all four sides and a 360 LED anchor light on top, as well as moved the radio antenna to the top. just some wiring to finish and awaiting the electronic box with built in speakers, which is not back order and not arriving till next week. Slowly but surely the Tahoe 215 CC transformation has taken shape.

 

[whmoore18]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

I dont know how to put this any other way but THATS THE ****!!!!! It looks like a completely different boat thats amazing....I might have to do it to ours

 

[spdracr39]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

Thats looks great !!!

 

[BOPChris]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

sstacey, I dont know what was going on but I can finally see the pictures.
Can you please post some pictures of the leaning post? Which Todd leaning post did you get; the universal or the adjustable height leaning post?

Thnaks

 

[whmoore18]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

I wish we had at least a 70 gallon fuel tank in our boats. I like that T-Top deal I'd buy some outriggers and put the on there if we do it to ours so I can go tuna fishing out 20 miles from our home port. The issue is our fuel tank is so small it limits us we only have 145 miles or so of fuel range. If I could get to the canyons we would be rolling in yellowfin tuna but thats 50miles each way and if a pop-up thunderstorm comes up it could be longer cause you got to go around it all

 

[sstacey]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

Just back from a "Christmas in June" marina event. Here are a few more. The boat took a two hour trip across the lake in 20klm winds and was fine. Lots of compliments. Very happy.





As for the leaning post, its the universal. I took off the old seats, measured the distance between the two seat posts and slid the new leaning post onto the existing seat posts. I will take some detailed pictures of that in the next day or two. Finally home and exhausted.

 

[whmoore18]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

Since your the fishing type why not put outriggers like Taco grandslams on it?

 

[sstacey]

Re: T Top for a Tahoe 215 CC?

Don't see alot of that on Lake Simcoe when just bass fishing and trout fishing. Downriggers mostly and I have two removable electric downriggers that slide into the rear rod holders on gimble mounts. I use those when Salmon fishing on Lake Ontario or Trout fishing on Lake Simcoe. I tend to see those outriggers on much larger boats but worth learning more.