Hardtop or bimini canopy?
Submitted by bradz on Fri, 2015-07-03 11:00
My current canopy set up needs some refreshing and I have 2 options I would like your educated opinions on.
1. fabricate a fibreglass hardtop which would extend slightly forward of the windscreen and have some new stainless steel bar work made up to support it, followed by clears
2. modify the existing rocket launcher made by Brad at West Coast Marine and have a new canopy with a stainless frame and clears mounted off it.
If they both cost a similar amount which path would you go down and why?
Also, if I go the hardtop option I will be selling the current rocket launcher if anyone is interested.
Cheers
Brad
____________________________________________________________________________
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
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Dale
Posts: 7930
Date Joined: 13/09/05
Nice rig mate, but I reckon I would go the hard top, don't know why, though, just would be better for mounting stuff onto if the opportunity arose.
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Mr Wolf
big john
Posts: 8725
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Ali
I've got an Ali boat which I recently changed from a canopy to a hard top.
Should have done it years ago.
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The Saint
Posts: 455
Date Joined: 30/01/13
Go the hardtop, once it's
Go the hardtop, once it's there that's it. No need to worry about replacement a few years down the track as will be the case with a canopy.
And as Dale says, better for mounting stuff, GPS antenna, radio aerials etc. (the higher your aerial, the better).
Will add a little bit of weight and change your centre of gravity slightly, but I would expect it to be hardly noticable.
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Hardtop
I am leaning towards the hardtop option. It shouldn't be too heavy so centre of gravity should be ok.
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
Broady
Posts: 131
Date Joined: 16/01/13
Hardtop
I have a hardtop ex factory on the Signature 632 - more than welcome to have a look. You've got a really stable hull anyway so wouldn't be concerned on stability
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Cheers
Thanks Broady
I may take you up on that offer but I dare say my hardtop wont be quite as sexy as the factory one.
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
Rob H
Posts: 5744
Date Joined: 18/01/12
wouldnt cost you anything
wouldnt cost you anything like the same in reality Id think, but if it was probably hardtop as Dale said.
Id stay with clears as well, personally I hate looking through glass all the time at places like the islands plus even in winter there its nice to get some air through when parked up and summer is way too hot behind a fully enclosed hardtop.
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Cost
The cost would be dependent on whether I can re-use the current rocket launcher or not.
Also the design will most likely be similar to the kevlacat hardtops but with a slight camber from left to right and tapered slightly from rear to front..
I was contemplating getting full height glass but only for about 2 minutes when I started to think about the lack of air flow and the heat in summer.
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
epic restos and...
Posts: 226
Date Joined: 22/06/15
do it out of ali,fiber glass
do it out of ali, fiberglass costly and a extensive process. replacing existing is just maintenance go hard semi hard top made to suit, you wont look back, has to be light though as top weight on that needs to be considered
Cruise Control
Posts: 970
Date Joined: 03/11/10
I have had hard top and soft
I have had hard top and soft top. Can't beat the hard top in winter when its blowing and raining but love the soft top in summer and being able to unzip the clears for ventilation. It's difficult to ventilate a hard top. I had roof hatches and sliding side windows but it still got awfully hot in there.
The hard top is great for storage and mounting equipment whereas these options are limited on a soft top. You can also get a hard top to extend well over the windscreen to provide shade and reduce glare not many soft tops do this, the Cruise Craft being one of the notable exceptions
If you can get a hard top with 300mm clears across the front and sliding windows you might be on a winner. I would prefer glass for looks unless a good ally fabricator can put together the right look.
epic restos and...
Posts: 226
Date Joined: 22/06/15
in all honesty I reckon a
in all honesty I reckon a hard top following the lines you have with removable clears would look the goods factual and practical
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Decision
Well it looks like I will be going with the fibreglass hardtop and clears front and side. The SS bar work should be verrry pretty, but not cheap. It will be a bit of a slow build but hopefully will come up looking the goods.
Now the fun starts with making up a mould for the hardtop. This will be my first fibreglass project so hopefull it will turn out nice.
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
Rob H
Posts: 5744
Date Joined: 18/01/12
fibreglass is great fun to
fibreglass is great fun to work with-til its not
Are you going to make a melamine mould for it?
Plenty of release wax and release agent!
And measure your MEKP accurately then you will have consistency, nothing worse than it starts to gel when you are halfway thru wetting out the cloth
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
bradz
Posts: 693
Date Joined: 29/10/07
Mould
Yep. Will be making a slightly curved mould from melamine.
This is my first fibreglass project so will be getting the measurements as precise as possible.
Any tips you want to share? The bar work will be very rigid so the hardtop won't be cored.
Layup should be gelcoat and 3 layers of 450 csm with a lip of about 30 or 40mm around the perimeter and maybe a few ribs.
I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.
Rob H
Posts: 5744
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Ive done a fair bit of
Ive done a fair bit of smaller stuff but a hardtop is probably a big layup for a first job.
Also if you are going to use gelcoat then youll need to get the corners etc spot on first time, may be easier to just glass it then spray it with 2 pack later and you can clean up imperfections etc?
It is much lighter and stronger if you can lay it up in one hit (3 layers) but need a slow mix to give you time, colder weather will help as well.
Im sure there are others here that will be much more knowledgable though?
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
epic restos and...
Posts: 226
Date Joined: 22/06/15
wish you the best of luck
wish you the best of luck cant wait to c progress shots and
it don't go pear shaped for you