Hardtop

[Endurance2018]

A25 hardtop prototype. Any suggestions or ideas are welcome.

Ty
Jim

[WillieC]

Welcome, Jim and Endurance 2018.

That’s a good start. There was a great step by step of a hardtop build on other sites, I’m sure it was referenced here at AOG. Ms Bettencourt(sp?) I think it was.

We have a home built one-off BC hardtop on the WillieC, that while adequate, could use some love. I thoroughly appreciate a PO’s hard work, but there are a few things that are lacking.

For your purposes, spend some time searching here at AOG and general googling the web. There is a ton of info available. Starting from scratch is enviable. With the right tools and skills and checkbook and time and workshop and understanding partner....I see I should have used a few commas but I thought I was almost done...

Points to ponder:
Size
Weight
Ease of attachment/removability
Wiring chases
Gutters
Gull wing entry
Hinged hatch(es)
Grab rails
Provision for attaching side canvasses
Material used
Support system at stern
Aesthetics
And more...

We know of a chap in BC who designed and built his, complete with dual gull wing side entries out of welded aluminum and tripled the value of the boat. Not that he got that when it sold, but I digress.

A great project! Don’t let it keep you off the water this season. Keep us posted.

[Endurance2018]

Thanks for the info I with search and see what they have here first.

[keoki62]

]I am almost done with mine still painting the gull wing hatches

[DesertAlbin736]

keoki,

Quite nice! Is that 'glass cloth over wood or a molded foam core layup?

Endurance,

Here's one we saw on Erie Canal four years ago. I think this is somewhat close to what you're considering, except this guy left the stock opening over the doghouse in place with canvas cover. Gull wing doors help with ingress/egress.

DSCN2419 (1280x960).jpg

New London, nice place. Here we were on the river opposite the Nautilus museum .

DSCN2541 (1280x960).jpg

[DesertAlbin736]

We know of a chap in BC who designed and built his, complete with dual gull wing side entries out of welded aluminum and tripled the value of the boat.Not that he got that when it sold, but I digress.

Ha ha, you got that right. I'm so "underwater" on project "investments" now I'd be lucky to get 50c or even 30c on the dollar when the day ever comes to sell. But the memories are priceless.

For what it's worth (which is not much probably), I opted to make our hardtop with hatches over the doghouse opening only & kept the cockpit canvas design close to stock except improving it by adding screens & side windows & made the back window larger. But that was because we have the sail rig & I wanted to keep that option viable. Plus, on pleasant sunny days we can flip the canvas forward & open up the whole aft part of the cockpit. But it does mean entering and leaving the boat from over the aft cabin instead of the sides. Just one of many possible owner mods.

What you don't want is to end up with is something looking like this:

IMG_1997.JPG

Or then again maybe you do????

[keoki62]

Looks like he's on the same page with me what a brow over is windshield I should be posting pictures middle part of may my windows are supposed to ship the end of April. We have had such a strange kind of wet winter in southern Texas it seems like my paint is taking forever can't wait to get her done

[WillieC]

Endurance2018,

Here is Keoki62's fine work in progress:

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=11435

Keoki, that is looking good! Keep us posted on how it works out in use.

Also, here is the link to Ms. Bettencourt. A wealth of info here. Take your time and read through this blog. I found stuff this morning I have been trying to figure out for quite a while.

http://msbettencourtsnewtop.blogspot.co ... date=false

[keoki62]

It is laminated Honduras mahogany stringers cross members with two layers 1/2 inch foam with two layers of 6 oz cloth weighs 127 lb

[keoki62]

I have been watching is Betancourt before I even bought my boat very nice job