New Member from the great white north!

R

rayp

Member
Joined
May 3, 2009
RO Number
31200
Messages
17
Hello everyone,
It is amazing how much good information is available on this site. Thank you all!
I need some good advice regarding hardtop vs Bimini. I'll be inclosing it with either one because of the rough/cold wether of the pacific norhtwest. What are some of the pros/cons?
Thanks you.
Ray
 
hardtops are best but figure $150 per sq ft for the welded frame and fiberglass top. Sunbrella canvas type are OK for a few years, may be 5, but a lot less expensive. Lexan windows are far superior to vinyl and not much more expensive. A lot will depend on what top builders are in your area.
 
Hello and welcome Ray.I put a hardtop on my 1993 40 Sedan Bridge. It is an insulated hard top. I have a 15,000BTU AC/Heat unit that also has a electric heat strip for when the heat pump stops working. I love it the helm is always comfortable and it keeps the moisture off the windows. I bought a Carrier low profile camper style unit and I am on my second season. I run it off the generator when we are cruising and the greenhead flies, and other bad bugs, are around or if it is hot or cold. It was one of the best upgrades I had done to my older boat. Having the hardtop also allowed me to install 3 solar panels that charge the house bank and to add additional needed antennas.
I highly recommend installing a hardtop and the above add ons. Bill
 
Thank you for your recommendations. I have the boat at a shop to get an aluminum top built for it but in three weeks the guy hasn't even got the material in yet. We have a very short season here, I think you follow my frustration! He is a nice guy and very reasonable rates but at this pace it might take a year. I have a design in mind for a plexiglass bridge with half of the sides folding up or down. Anyone done there own and willing to share some pictures of there project?
Ray
 
Bill: That Rv style AC has a bebefit of not needing a water pipe and pump but isnt it noisy? What do you do with condensation? Any pix?

Ray: Well see if we can get Charlie to post pix of his hardtop.
 
Bruce correct no water needed, this unit is very quiet, there is a picture in the show your boat thread page 5 or 6. The condensation water is slung off the top by the fan sometimes we get a small drip off the back side of the hardtop if we are stationary. The unit is not noisy at all inside the bridge but my hardtop is almost 2" thick, insulated and double sided. The blower motor is strong but my wife and I have no problems talking as we motor along using the unit. I will see if I can find the picture and post the link here. When I purchased the unit I bought a spare knowing eventually the environment we use it in might lead it to an early demise. Yesterday I was on the hardtop installing my GPS antenna for my Class B AIS transponder and I cleaned and waxed it the AC unit appears as it did 2 seasons ago when it was installed.
Bill
 
I like the one by "rduhon". It's similar to what I have in mind but my boat is only a 23' cuddy. Does this top folds down from the back? Because of all the rain/cold weather in the pacific northwest, I would add upward folding plexiglass sides and folding down top for easier transport, (long hauls)
Ray
 
Sorry I don't have all the construction pixs. They were lost when my previous photo hosting site lost them.

Here's a before and after...

240WEbefore.jpg


MVC-003S.jpg


finished2.jpg
 
Thanks Charlie, nice work. did you do all yourself or at a shop? It looks realy good.
 
I love that look as well as the great craftmenship Charlie. I wanted to do something similar but there would not be any standing room and we would have lost the front two wrap around seats up top. Nice job! Bill
 
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