Hard top idea

[stephen25]

Can you guys send me some of your pictures of your hardtops on your toons and how they fasten to the boat and how they fasten to the lowering post. I want to build one and have a great idea of making it 3 peice and retractable
Thanks,

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Hard top idea

I have a 10' hardtop on my 1985 Starcraft, and they no longer make pontoons with folding aluminum hard tops. The 1 1/4" aluminum tubing and the aluminum sheets weigh approximately 100 lbs., and they're just a hassle to move up and down. My top is held on by bolts that go through the fencing on my pontoon.

Most new boats use factory OEM bimini tops, and one is available @ Pontoonstuff.com that's electrically lowered and raised. It's made by Schwentek that makes hardware for RV and motorhome sliders. It's $1,000, but looks really nice to have.

 

[stephen25]

Re: Hard top idea

That's what i currently have which is nice but not long enough in the hot days.
Thanks

 

[stephen25]

Re: Hard top idea

does anyone have any pictures of there hard tops??

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Hard top idea

I have been considering building my own. I presently have a bimni and that's works just fine but over the summer I had added a tarp for the front a few time when it was blistering hot. I have been kicking a few designs around in my head. Some thing I can make with out welding and just hand tools. I am thinking around a 10 foot long and move the bimni forward for extra shade when needed and out of the way for fishing. Right now I am thinking of 3/4 EMT electrical conduit for the ribs and to pop rivet the sheeting to that's light weight stuff and of course alum sheeting on top and perhaps a 1 1/4 EMT frame with holes drilled into that for the rib tubes and through bolted. ans 1/4 legs bolted the the floor and fence rails. and no it wouldn't be a fold down, and it would be a lot more sturdy but its slip kept and its only a 20 mile tow.

 

[stephen25]

Re: Hard top idea

That is kind of what I had in mind, something ribbed, and the ribs on a rail system where I can retract it or extend it if needed using a winch and some small cable and crimps "similar to a stadium roof" . I am an electrician by trade so I can greatly relate to the idea of using EMT or aluminum conduit.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Hard top idea

What I have been thinking of is using some thing around the 1 inch square steel tubing as the main frame its light and cheep enough and you can find 90 degree fitting for it or it could be welded at the corners, as the main frame with holes drilled into it so the arched robs can fit inside of it, and then through bolted on the ends and then with the sheeting pop riveted on top with blind rivets and 5200 sealant to the EMT conduit with at least a 6 inch arch to shed rain and so on. With the ribs on 1 foot centers. That should make a very light top but be plenty strong. In my case I was thinking on a alum tubing from the floor up fastened to the floor and the fence rails. But I am sure you could make it hinged to fold down or bolt on to be removed.

Its just a idea I have been thinking on. The weight is what you have to really watch alto I have seen a lot of boats here with actual 2 x 4 wood roofs and shingles on them :facepalm:

 

[5150abf]

Re: Hard top idea

Not that you would miss this but keep in mind this won't be in a static environment when done, it will have 30-40 mph winds from all directions and a rocking boat to keep up with so over engineer the life out of it.

The first time I saw this thread that is the first thing I thought about, getting it to work would be the easy part, designing it to last on a boat needs a bit more thought.

 

[Slow Rider]

Re: Hard top idea

We have a hard top on our Avalon Ambassador, 2010 and love it. It was a custom design, but i think they offer it as an option now. It gets pretty hot in Texas, so we are always thankful to have plenty of shade for us and guests. hopefully you can tell by this picture!

 

[junkman41]

Re: Hard top idea

here is mine completly covered

 

[stephen25]

Re: Hard top idea

That's a really nice lake where is that located? and does your hardtop go down for travel?

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: Hard top idea

Here's a photo of mine...I could probably take photos tomorrow of the top down and the brackets too. I fold mine down towards the front and tie it off to the rails while I'm motoring down the road since it just loves to grab tree branches if I don't drop it.

 

[stephen25]

Re: Hard top idea

Thanks lizard i think with pictures of the brackets and down i could be complete on info needed

 

[junkman41]

Re: Hard top idea

Stephen, the lake is Tionesta lake in NW PA., my top does fold down to transport, mine folds down just like Lizards does. I like the hardtop. plus there is a canvas top if the front that is on one in the photo, which attaches to the hardtop and has sides for a complete tent.
thanks Jack

 

[junkman41]

Re: Hard top idea

River_Lizard, what brand name is your pontoon? kinda looks like mine. I have a 1986 SanPan 24', your roof post are straight up and down, where mine are on an angle,

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: Hard top idea

Junkman,

24 ft. Sunliner by Harris it's an older pontoon but the price was perfect I've gotten twice the value out of what I paid for it in just 4 years. It's a 100% catfishing boat...ok maybe 99% since the Mrs. once a year wants me to take her and the dogs to a beach area on the river for the day. Oh and there's the 1 day a year that I volunteer river clean up, then it becomes a floating trash pontoon (sometime I'll have to post those photos on the dock section).

Your brackets are just about like mine, 2 bolts per bracket. What I did with mine is I replaced 1 bolt per bracket with a wing-nut setup so I could remove it quick at the ramp without tools.
I noticed on yours that you have additional braces (45 degree) towards the top of each column, which I bet helps with stabilizing the roof from moving side-to-side when a wake hits the side of the pontoon logs. Those are perfect to help support the top but I'd be running into them all the time on my boat and that's why I haven't added them to mine. Oh there's days I've considered it after being buzzed about 50 times by boats during the day. Every time a boat comes by I have to hold on to a column and attempt to counter the effects of the wake on my hard top. If I don't that hard top gets to swinging side to side and I'm afraid it's going to break the breaks on the rails.
If I was going to modify my top, I'd make the columns go all the way to the floor right next to the railing. That way when I raise it, I could put 1 bolt setup through the top railing into the column and 1 at the bracket by the hard top. The railings would help stabilize the side-to-side movement from wakes. Only drawback is, you couldn't have anything against the railings on either side when you lower the columns down for transport. I think my rod holders mounted on my railings would hit the columns not allowing it to drop completely down so the hardtop sits on top of the railing.

Stephen,

Once I get moving.....after 10 cups of coffee :lol: I'll go out and take a few photos of the brackets and it lowered down sitting on the rail top for you and post them. Give me about 45 minutes or so.

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: Hard top idea

Having a hard time getting 2 of the photos to send through my iphone/website account...not sure if they've been tagged as spam or what...but here's one at least.
Not sure why the size of the photo has come out so small...I put it at 1024 and yet it's like at 350 for some reason. Strange. OK got it to work the last time with a different extension at the end.

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: Hard top idea

Here's what the brackets look like and notice the back bolt is different from the front one, that's the one I pull to allow the columns to drop forward to lower top. Of course on the upper bracket it's the opposite bolt (would be the front one or left in the photo)

 

[junkman41]

Re: Hard top idea

River_Lizard, I also replaced one bolt in each bracket for easy up and down with the top. the extra roof supports realy help alot with the side swaying, my top stays in place without any side to side movement. I am 6'3" and I have never ran into those brackets yet. you should concider them on yours. good luck catfishing. I cant wait untill I can get back out there and do some fishing.
thanks Jack

 

[River_Lizard]

Re: Hard top idea

I hear ya Jack on the catfishing. I should be out there right now but I've been under the weather lately...got an appointment tomorrow with a specialist to see what's going on. As soon as that's resolved and I feel better I'm going to hit the river again.
I'll have to look into the 45 degree brackets, just worry about hitting them....I'm 6'4" but maybe I could put them on 3 columns and leave the one that I walk by all the time without one. Three would be better than none....it gets to be a pain when there's tons of boats passing by with the hard top swinging. I've got to grab it or one of these times it'll snap the brackets off!!