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

[bossee]

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

Maybe add a top slide window so You can stand up and drive?

 

[18rabbit]

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

Buy your wife a sun hat. I wear ‘am all the time...kind of partial to the ones with a pretty ribbon I can tie under my chin.

 

[Solittle]

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

Do you ever have a need to crawl up on the forward deck?

 

[Ron Everson]

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

Sounds like a lot of work. I had an upholstery shop make a rag top complete with removable (zip) see-through side curtains and removable (zip) solid rear cover for the 1961 16' Texas Maid Fiesta. They used a longer top bow for the front so that I could sit comfortably without hitting my head. Wife and kid loved it. It sure beat using the golf umbrellas. It kept us out of the sun and dry in storms for many years. If the weather turned bad, we dug out the side curtains and back panel. Usually it was just the rag top, which covered the 4 seats. White vinyl material that weathered well. It was attached to the boat with snaps. The custom built rag top fits a small boat much better than the pre-made biminis. Keeps the weather out much better.

 

[Andiceman]

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

Originally posted by Ron Everson:<br /> Sounds like a lot of work. I had an upholstery shop make a rag top complete with removable (zip) see-through side curtains and removable (zip) solid rear cover for the 1961 16' Texas Maid Fiesta. They used a longer top bow for the front so that I could sit comfortably without hitting my head. Wife and kid loved it. It sure beat using the golf umbrellas. It kept us out of the sun and dry in storms for many years. If the weather turned bad, we dug out the side curtains and back panel. Usually it was just the rag top, which covered the 4 seats. White vinyl material that weathered well. It was attached to the boat with snaps. The custom built rag top fits a small boat much better than the pre-made biminis. Keeps the weather out much better.

Ron, do you have any pictures of this setup? Sounds like a great idea to add to my project. I recently picked up a Texas Maid Fiesta, not sure of the year, that needs quite a bit of work. I'd love to see any pictues you might have of the boat.<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Mark42]

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

I think what Ron is refering to is called a Navy top. Like a bimini top but it snaps onto the windshield in the front. More like a convertable top on a car than the open ended style of bimini tops. <br /><br />Am I on the right track, Ron?<br /><br />Mark<br /><br />Edit: Here is a pic of a custom Navy top and curtains for a MFG Niagara. Owner said it cost over $1000.<br />

 

[BigPoppaG]

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

Ever thought about hinging the hard top? Maybe one hinge on each side to fold the back arms in and then the top have a hinge down the center to fold it in half. Just thinking of storage and handling possibilities.

 

[Ron Everson]

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

The pictures of the 1965 MFG Niagara Custom look like the rag top that I had made for the 1961 16' Texas Maid Fiesta, although I thought mine looked a little neater. Probably rose-colored memories. I'll see if I can find a good picture of the old boat with the top up. It cost me $300.00 better than 10 years ago. I would shop around for a good price from someone who has done boat tops and covers. Most upholstery shops can do them. That cover kept us dry in quite a few downpours and kept the spray from the big waves out, also. The rain in Colorado is darn cold, so protection from the elements is critical when you're along way from shelter.

 

[Ron Everson]

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

By the way, how do I post a picture?<br /><br /> Ron

 

[Andiceman]

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

You can upload your picture(s) to www.photobucket.com, then add the link to the picture(s) to your post.<br /><br />Or you can email it to me (since I'm the one who asked) and I'll post it.<br /><br />My email is andiceman@texaseagles.net.

 

[Andiceman]

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

Here's the picture that Ron sent:<br /><br />

<br /><br />Very neat. Ron, if you have other pictures of your Fiesta, with or without the cover, interior, dash, etc, I'd love to see them since I'm basically going to be working from the bare hull up. My boat is pretty well stripped--heck, it is bare aluminum and appears to have been so for several years.<br /><br />Here's my Fiesta:<br />

<br /><br />I'm pretty excited about it.