Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

[Mark42]

Want to add some sort of shade to the boat. My wife doesn't want to go out with the kids this summer if the boat doesn't have sun protection.<br /><br />I can just order a bimini top, but have been toying with the idea of making a removable hard top. This photo is what I had in mind. Would make it from 1" thick expanded poly foam by Armstrong available at the home centers (or something similar). Cut, glue, carve, and cover with two layers of fiberglass and some marine paint. Should make a nice lightweight top. Just not easy to store, unless I make the back "legs" detach. You will have to stoop a bit to get to the front seats, but this is a little boat. Inspired by hard tops I saw from the 1960's.<br /><br />So whadda think?<br /><br />

 

[TexomaAv8r]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

Looks interesting, keep us posted, maybe I can do somthing similar for my Westfield

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

That looks cool, Mark! If ya do as well on the real thing as you did with photoshop, it'll be a winner.<br /><br />I'd maybe consider making a male mould and laying however many and whatever weight of glass over the top of it. Sand her down, shoot it with some good paint and you'd be off and running.

 

[PaulKim]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

Mark, funny thing, I was just thinking about doing this with by Bellboy just yesterday. I started doing some research in terms of creating a foam core of some sort. Didn't get too much further than that. What are your thoughts on attaching the top to the windows and your gunnel?

 

[ED21]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

One problem w/ hard tops I've heard of is they can concentrate engine noise under it.

 

[Eggkr8]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

Hi Mark <br />Great idea, I love the photoshop work! Regarding Ed's noise comment. I can share with you that in my days of owning a Miata I looked into a hardtop for it. The hardtop actually greatly increased the chassis rigidity and did really amplify road noise. I would expect similar results on a boat.<br /><br />I have been thinking about a simple bimini my self. To busy with bigger fish like the outdrive right now! <br />cheers<br />e

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

Mark<br /><br />The lines are much nicer and more complimentary to your boat than any bimini.<br /><br />The noise issue might depend upon whether it's transmitting it through the boat or capturing airborne sound. As the exhaust is under water and pointing away from the boat any airborne noise is likely to be coming from the motor working. If it's trasmitted through the boat body you could reduce it by making some rubber mounts for the top, same as sound isolators work on cars.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

I think sound is a real consern because the windshield reflects the sound of the motor right now. When standing up so my head is above the windshield, the motor sound is much less. I worry that the top may help amplify the motor sound. <br /><br />Have been thinking about how to attach it. In the rear, where I don't want to drill holes in the top of the gunnel, I thought about a J strap to reach down and grab the bottom of the gunnel. If it is made of heavy rubber like those black 'bungie' cords, it should hold tight. In the front, maybe the snap on clips by Teleflex will provide a place to attach the top with snaps. Wonder if they will fit my frame? <br /><br />Mark

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

Similar in shape to my soft top (see my sig for pics). I did not have a lot of time to use th boat with the top up, but can assure you that it sure was nice to have shade at times!<br /><br />I had full width bench seats (temporary), and getting in/out of the boat with the top on was a challenge to say the least.<br /><br />As for how to attach the hard top cover, I'd focus a lot of attention to the front. Shoudl the wind get a hold of it while travelling at speed...you'd be in for a wild ride. Could be dangerous for passengers.<br /><br />Ideally you need some type of a full-width lip on the cover across the front, that would slide securely into a mating lip on the windshield frame. So long as the lip was secured well, the joint would be held tight while in forward motion. Then you could just use toggle clamps in the rear to hold the back sides to the gunnels. Kinda hard to explain what I am envisioning.<br /><br />The lip would be like folding a sheet metal edge over, but loose enough to slide another lip in from the other direction.

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

I think the wind issue would be a lot worse if there was a gap between the top and the windscreen. As it is the windflow from the front when the boat is moving should just go up and over. Is there a problem with uplift on the top side of the top from the wind passing over it?<br /><br />Don't know about it getting under it from the sides though. <br /><br />Rag top cars with the side windows down can go a lot faster than boats and they don't lose their tops. The old ones often had just a couple of fastening points to the windscreen. Trimph Stags had a removable hardtop that from memory just had a couple of locks either side of the windscren, although it was pretty heavy.<br /><br />If it's properly anchored to the boat it probably shouldn't be a problem. If it's anchored to the windscreen the windscreen might need to be tied down better on the vertical bits at the side.<br /><br />What I understand AMD to be saying about the lip is like bending the fingers on each of your hands and then pulling them against each other with the fingers hooked over the fingers on opposing hand.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

I had the convertible top on my FW that attaches to the windshield. The problem with it is that it limits your visibility since you can't stand up, esp when you are getting up on plane. I actually had two windows put into the foward panels of the top just above each windshield section so I could see better. Finally got a bimini top, and although some don't like how boats look with them, they are more functional since they allow you unrestricted visibility and nice airflow on hot days. With the convert top unless the middle section above the hinged center windshield window was left open it got too hot. Also would give a lot more headroom and not make the boat feel cramped.

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

For what it's worth I've been thinking about making a folding canvas top that I can put up when I'm fishing and leave down the rest of the time. <br /><br />As it won't be up when the boat is going it can be very simple, and I can make it myself which will save a lot of money. <br /><br />I'm thinking along the lines of an inverted U main frame attached to the gunnels which will lay along them towards the back of the boat and over the splashwell when down, like a car ragtop, leaving the floor area clear. Then one inverted U shape coming off the main frame part way up facing forward and one facing backward, with straps to the gunnels to hold it. Should take about half a minute to erect and the same to put down.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

Mark, I think your idea is great. Does your windshield have snaps? If not rivit them on and glue some heavy vinyl(matching color) to the front of the hardtop. Install snaps in the vinyl, and you should be good. The back will hold with that bungie cord thing. Also, consider a hinge at the top of the rear "legs". If the legs fold flat to the top, it will store pretty good. Also, poly resin will melt most foams. Urethane foam will work with poly resin. <br /><br />I would also consider covering the entire top with vinyl. It will give a good look to the top and save you from sanding the resin with 400 grit sandpaper and painting it.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

Hi Chris1956, <br /><br />Been thinking about using older GM convertable top latches to hold top to windshield. That just needs a simple loop attached to the frame like the ss pieces that bimini top straps clip onto. Your snap idea is probably a lot cheaper. I like the idea of covering the top with vinyl. I have some expanded poly insulating foam left over from doing my basement project. Will play with that to see if it melts or not from poly resin.

 

[Bluefish]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

While your still in the planning stage consider the time of day and boat movement most tops offer little protection unless the sides are way down

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

what about raising the height of the total unit by 6 inches and adding a clear veiw window. you could even use the clear stuff that they add to bimini style enclosures...<br /><br />i jacked your pic up a bit to get a better look.....<br /><br />.<br />.<br />.<br />.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

Hey! That's a neat idea. But it has the major drawback that it covers up part of my face.... <br /><br />One could get totally carried away with this... Add sliding side windows, rear skirt, sun roof...

 

[jimmythekid]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

just think if they designed boats like as good as we do

 

[jlinder]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

"Power Sun Roof" and "Power Windows". If you're going to do it, do it right

 

[Mark42]

Re: Toying with idea of making a removable hard top. Photo.

Jack, I'm sorry, don't know what I was thinking. If I remove one of the lounge seats, I think I could fit in a wetbar and fridge. <br /><br />I think Bluefish has a good point about protection vs height and movement. A set of snap in or zipper in side sun screens might be a good idea. Velcro might do it too. <br /><br />Last summer when out on the water we opened a beach umbrella and drove around holding that over our heads. I kid you not. It worked well as long as the speed was under 15mph and two people hung onto it. Bet that looked real classy, huh? Wife wanted me to bolt an umbrella stand to the floor to hold it. I had to bite my tongue.