Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

[woosterken]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

what would the sample look like if it were polished and waxed? the diiference mite not be that far off to some one else, that has not been up close and personal to it like you LOL

woosterken

 

[redfury]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

As far as the top goes, you could always sew in weather stripping on the leading edge of the snaps...that way the snaps hold the weather stripping tight against the top and sides.

You might want to visit a boat shop and see their enclosures and see what they do about making the weather tight tops. You might be surprised at what you actually have to do to keep the rain at bay.

 

[drew2302]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Great Idea , looking forward to the pic.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

After the top is back on the boat, I can take it around to some shops and get their opinions.

There is this stuff, kind of a track style connection that might work. Have not seen it in use, but it sounds promising:

This part attaches to the boat, available in aluminum or plastic.

This welting is sewn to the fabric and then slides into the track above.

I just can't imagine trying to slide long lengths of this together.

 

[gugo46]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Not sure how it would slide in the track (wouldn't track need to be twice as long as the welting?), seems to be too rigid to compress. What you could do is put that in and attach waterproof zippers to the rubber/plastic part (the welting).

Quick search for waterproof zippers yielded http://www.tizip.com/

Best of luck, looks awesome!!!

One last thing, kind of too late, but why not lexan for the sliding windows? more expensive than plexiglass, but way cheaper, stronger and lighter than glass. Also having double track and 2 panes of glass/lexan would let you tint one and not the other so you can get the sun block when needed (obviously each piece would slide separately).

Maybe you can still do 2 panes on the sliding: one glass and one lexan, and tint one of them. You can put lexan on the outside/inside depending on where u think it will scratch less. I am pretty sure you can tint lexan that will hide the possible yellowing (some lexan i have seen has been guaranteed for many years not to yellow).

G

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Not sure how it would slide in the track (wouldn't track need to be twice as long as the welting?), seems to be too rigid to compress. What you could do is put that in and attach waterproof zippers to the rubber/plastic part (the welting).

Quick search for waterproof zippers yielded http://www.tizip.com/

Best of luck, looks awesome!!!

One last thing, kind of too late, but why not lexan for the sliding windows? more expensive than plexiglass, but way cheaper, stronger and lighter than glass. Also having double track and 2 panes of glass/lexan would let you tint one and not the other so you can get the sun block when needed (obviously each piece would slide separately).

Maybe you can still do 2 panes on the sliding: one glass and one lexan, and tint one of them. You can put lexan on the outside/inside depending on where u think it will scratch less. I am pretty sure you can tint lexan that will hide the possible yellowing (some lexan i have seen has been guaranteed for many years not to yellow).

G

Thanks for the water proof zipper idea. Will look into that.

I have plexy in the other boat, and it is getting dull from washing. Get lots of salt water dried on it and the plexy just doesn't hold up.

The weight is stacking up like this....

The top weighs about 60 lbs w/o glass. (used a bathroom scale)

The glass that is being added is more than the old windshield that was taken off. But even though glass is heavy, not a lot of glass is being added. The old windshield weighs about 30 lbs, so the net gain to the boat is about 70 lbs.

I'll know better after the new glass comes and I can weigh it and weigh the old windshield and side glass.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

The curtains for my hardtop use the alum track system you posted.

The track is not continuous. The track starts roughly 6" in from the corners and have a 6" gap at the center. The welting is actually sewn into the top of the curtain itself. The materials is folded over at the top and the welting is sewn on the inside so you can not see it.

No problems taking the curtains off and on. It's a lot easier than the zip on curtains I had on my last boat.

 

[88BLiner]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Hey Mark, I just read that the plexi windows on your other boat are getting dull from washing them with dried salt on them. You may know this already but you can wetsand and buff them and they will look brand new.

I own a saltwater aquarium business and a lot of the more expensive tanks are acrylic, which just really thick Plexiglas. They also get dull from cleaning with abrasive brushes. It works really well.

If it is just a dull looking haze you may be able to skip the wet sanding part and just buff them with some compound like the stuff you use a cars paint and clearcoat.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

88Bliner, thanks for the tip. Still haven't unwrapped the old MFG this year yet. The Capri keeps me so busy.

Today I tried to sand down the top with 220 as per the directions for the primer. To that I say, "yeah, right!" 220 does nothing. I went down to 180, then 150, and ended up at 100. Then back up to 150, then 180. Just when I think I'm done, I feel a soft spot and with a razor knife cut open an air bubble in the epoxy the size of a shirt button. So I'm taking a break, will go over the whole top with a pencil and mark any spots that need fill, and do one last touch up before painting.

I did wash the top with just water. In the gloss of the water I can see it will be smooth, the orange peel from the primer/roller is gone. But there are a few "wavy" spots on the roof. At this point, I'm going to live with it.

Wish me luck!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Got the first coat on today.

First it was all sanded down, then vacuumed with the shop vac, then washed with just clean water, when dry it was rubbed down with a tac cloth.

Applied the paint with a 9" foam roller cut in half to fit a small roller, and a 3" wide foam brush. This worked much better than using a bristle brush like I did on the window frames. These pics are taken after the paint has dried about an hour.

As you can see, the paint has a great shine, and the roll and tip method worked very good. Almost too good because it shows off the ripples in the surface of the top! I guess I better go to Vo-tech and take body work again! LOL!

Have to wait 16 hours, and a second coat can go on.

 

[maxum247]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

The top does look good!

max!

 

[jonesg]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

PAint looks great,

I just used brightside interlux to do my stern,
my idea of finish sanding is 80 grit disc on a sears power sander
and it still shines.
I read the can, it contains teflon for a slick feel.!
I used an 89cent throwaway brush, no need for anything fancy with interlux, the paint makes its own finish.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Wow, that hardtop looks great...good work Mark.

Are you planning on mounting any lights on the top of it?

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Thanks for the comments guys, its been a long time coming to get to the first coat! Woo Hoo!

Wow, that hardtop looks great...good work Mark.

Are you planning on mounting any lights on the top of it?

Huron, I have a 4" all around light to be legal. I was thinking of painting it to match the top. Think it would look better Off White or Black?

Here are a few more of the top. Less extreme angle so you don't notice the ripples in the finish so much. Probably more like what it will look like out in the sun.

And the "nose" and "beak" that was such a pain in the butt to make.

These corners were very sharply defined. When I wet the top down I didn't like the way they looked with the other rounded corners so I softened them a little. Also think they won't chip as easy being rounded.

 

[maxum247]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

The white will look clean but there's something about the black base that I like!
Sorry! I just noticed the question was addressed to Huron!

max!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

The white will look clean but there's something about the black base that I like!
Sorry! I just noticed the question was addressed to Huron!

max!

Nothing to be sorry for. Jump right in! It might be nice to have the contrast. The plan is to mount it up front, center about 8 inches or so back from the leading edge of the roof. I noticed that a lot of boats that have an all around light overhead often mount the light central on the boat, rather than the rear like a pole light. Thought I'd do the same.

 

[maxum247]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Nothing to be sorry for. Jump right in! It might be nice to have the contrast. The plan is to mount it up front, center about 8 inches or so back from the leading edge of the roof. I noticed that a lot of boats that have an all around light overhead often mount the light central on the boat, rather than the rear like a pole light. Thought I'd do the same.

I think the black base and clear globe will look great on cabin top!

max!

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Def black is the way to go and you wont hafta mess with painting it..

That hard top is amazing...dammmm near pro-fessional! lol

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Since your Bayliner doesn't have a lot of black trim it may look nicer painted white. Maybe mount it while still black and see how it looks?

The only concern I would have is that it is conspicuous enough to keep it from getting damaged from forgetting it's up there(garage doors, etc).

I would imagine that after all your hard work you are going to be pretty careful about incurring any damage to her though

They have some nice flip-up lights that allow for better visibility(taller) and protect it when not in use also. That's what the Seaswirl hardtop came with from the factory.

Some stainless steel railings or pole holders would look great on there as well

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Man I love Sundays!! I go fishing all day and when I get back to check iboats, Mark42 always has an update on his hardtop fabrication...usually with pictures!

The top looks terrific, I can't wait to see it on the boat with the tinted glass installed! Keep up the great work!

BOB