Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

[Mark42]

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

Today I took the boat out on a cloudy rainy day. It was cool, and the water was a little choppy, but waves were less than 1 ft. Its the first time I got to use the windshield wipers. I am so glad I added the wipers to the hard top. It was raining lightly, sometimes medium, and the wipers were just the ticket to keep the view clear. Also noticed that after running for about 20 minutes they were wiping much faster than when first turned on. I think the brand new motors needed a "break in" period. Only change I'll make is to replace the fixed straight blade with a traditional blade so it lays flat against the glass through the entire sweep. The fixed blade has no flex at all and leaves about 2 inches of the glass un-wiped at each end.

It was also nice to have the roof over our heads. We kept the side windows closed, and there was no cold wind blowing on us. It was so nice to be out in this weather and be warm and dry! This is just the type of weather I made the top for. Now I know the boating season can be extended into the cooler fall weather and boat in comfort.

 

[tallcanadian]

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

Made all that work worth it, eh buddy?

 

[Mark42]

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

Spring is going to be here before you know it. Started thinking about the boat and what needs to be done. So I untied the back of the cover and climbed inside to survey where I left off. Have most of the carpet on the deck removed, still have to pull it off the seat bases and a little left up near the cuddy. I'm leaving the cuddy as is because it is in near new condition in there. It just wasn't used.

It also reeked of moth balls. Again it seems to be working to keep animals out. No signs of any little critters having been inside.

The economy being what it is, the budged will be scaled back a bit. I think the hard top will be covered with Hull Liner rather than foam backed vinyl. The hull liner is less expensive, and is pretty much the same stuff that Bayliner put in the cuddy. Available in an off-white, it should work OK for the inside of the hard top and save me a few $$. Plus its really easy to install, no special treatment of the edges, seams just blend together. Its also UV treated, water proof, and should not get too much wear on the ceiling and walls. The savings will go toward glassing over the deck and then either rolling on gel coat for a non-slip texture, or glue down Deco Dot. Still haven't decided which way to go.

Never too soon to reassess where you were and plan for the spring!

 

[redfury]

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

I betcha could have omitted that wooden spine in the ceiling now that I think of how well you glassed the thing ( I better shut up before I have you thinking about more glass work on the thing )

Working within a budget is pretty much the norm around here, it's just a matter of prioritizing, though it's funny how many times stuff from the bottom of the priority list gets purchased

 

[ezmobee]

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

Hey Mark, wrfalpacas used a sheet or two of that fiberglass paneling stuff from Lowes/HD for the ceiling of his cuddy. I think it looks AWESOME. And he even installed cool puck lights in it. Look here http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=316643&page=13 about a third of the way down. I think that would look fantastic on your top as well. Plus it would be pretty indestructable.

 

[Mark42]

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

Yeah, I probably could have removed the pine after glassing the top side. But it's there and not going to come out easy.

That fiberglass board looks pretty cool. Will have to check it out. Maybe with some edge molding, it could even be used on the sides.

One advantage that Hull Liner has over hard surfaces, is it does absorb sound. And the top does tend to magnify the sound of the outboard, so sound deadener would be a good thing!

Now don't get me started on the boat just yet, I still have to put in a new sink, faucet and garbage disposal in the kitchen, and lay some hardwood in the livingroom before I can work on the boat! I figure I have until April to finish house projects.

 

[jcupo6]

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

Wow, amazing work! That is really impressive! Hmmm, I might have to try this for my doghouse, how strong is the finished product? Do you think if i did the doghouse this way someone would be able to sit on it?

 

[Mark42]

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

Wow, amazing work! That is really impressive! Hmmm, I might have to try this for my doghouse, how strong is the finished product? Do you think if i did the doghouse this way someone would be able to sit on it?

Sure! A couple more layers and it would easily handle that kind of use. But it would start go get heavy. 1/2" ply is still probably the best for a dog house.

 

[Mark42]

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

Quick update. The hard top has been working really well even after the second season of use. The areas of concern I had were about the side sliding windows and the way they are attached to the hard top (PVC molding epoxied to top) and the front windshield seals. The side windows are 1/4" tempered glass, and are very heavy. They have been holding on tight as barnacles, even in pounding water.

The front windshield leaks a little when hit with the garden hose sprayer, but some small changes should fix that. The side windows leaked a lot from washing. Turns out water would fill the bottom channel of the sliding window, and over run to the inside of the top, rather than the outside. Drilling some 3/16" holes every 10" along the bottom track allows water to drain before it can build up enough to run to the inside.

Was also was worried about the epoxy/glass separating from the pink Styrofoam insulation. All those little pencil point punctures in the foam every 2-3" apart probably help to keep the top solid. We have hung off the trailing edge of the top, leaned against the insides, and the whole top is a stressed member as the boat hits rough water. In fact, the boat feels much more solid with the top on and bolted down tight than it did as an open top cuddy (yes, it is bolted on with a thick rubber seal). You know the top is taking stresses, and its not coming apart or de-laminating AT ALL!!! And that makes me very happy.

What surprised me was that early summer I was washing the boat and found two large blisters and two small blisters on the top. They feel like air bubbles when I push on them. I compared their locations to some photos of the top before paint and see they match EXACTLY to places I used some old spot putty when I ran out of fresh (DOH!). Either I did not clean the surface well, or the spot putty went bad, but either way, there are two big and two small blisters. Feels like its just a tad thicker than the coats of paint and primer, but I won't know until I cut them off and repair the areas. Still have some paint, so it won't be too noticeable.

BTW, I got frustrated with trying to use epoxy for fairing compound, and switched to a high grade body filler recommended by some custom shops in the area. More expensive than regular filler, it is holding up very well. The body filler is holding tight to the epoxy/glass with no signs of separating.

I did find two hair-line cracks in the paint of the windshield frame on the port side. Again, this is where spot putty was used. Might be the same tube of putty I used on the roof where it blistered. Just can't say. But the starboard windshield frame is perfect.

So, for all intensive purposes, I can safely say that using quality auto body filler on a boat is working (above the water line!!!!). The only problem I have is from (apparently) old materials, and that is easily fixed. Everything else is doing great!

 

[drewpster]

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

Great to hear Mark! I am glad to know the ol' Pope Boat is working for you.
drewp

 

[Mark42]

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

Great to hear Mark! I am glad to know the ol' Pope Boat is working for you.
drewp

Thanks drewpster!

There is just so much more to do to get it where I want it. At this point I am really ready to kick the boat manufacturers butts because they stopped building boats like this in the late 60's - early 70's. I guess the family boating experience went away with all those cool campers of the time.

 

[redfury]

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

Awesome report. I'm glad you made it, because I used some high quality autobody filler to use in the seams of my deck, and to level out some areas under the dash area where the hull of the boat intrudes into the deck area...darn you tri hull! I just glassed everything but the bilge area ( my staging point ) today...I used more resin than I expected, but it's done for the most part! I'll probably use the same filler when I do the fairing of the nose damage repair.

Also, it's true...old stuff that's been on the shelf or opened once never performs as well as the fresh stuff...I think that should be a sticky in the forums...always use fresh supplies!

 

[tallcanadian]

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

It's always to good to hear an update of someone's build. Both the builder and people watching can learn a lot from updates. It seems your enjoying your top and that is good to hear. So glad you took the time to share your experience with us. And many good years ahead...