Hard Top Complete
 

Well it's almost complete. It's primered and just needs painting which I'll do when I'm ready to put it on the boat and that's not going to be for some time. For now I'm going to put in the back yard under a tarp and get back to work on the boat. I'm glad I made it and it turned out good.It is very sturdy. Not sure how much it weighs but it is lighter then I expecxted it to be. I can pick it up by myself without much difficulty. I'm guessing close to 100 pounds give or take. It measures 91 inches long and the width is 73 inches in the rear and it tapers down to 69 inches in the front just before it makes the curve. Things I'd do differently:

1. Buy a hard top. Because it was a PIA to make and I got tired of messing with it after a while. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]
2. For the bottom I'd make a very thin skin from some light cloth on a molding table and epoxy this to the bottom as it would cut down on fairing and sanding time.

Thats about it. Here are a couple pics to look at. The first one is a little blurred because of the propane heat waves.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Hard%20...p/primered.JPG
http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Hard%20.../primered2.JPG
http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Hard%20.../Primered3.JPG

Thanks for all the good comments on my first post.

Strick

Re: Hard Top Complete
 

Fantastic job, I am having trouble finding the words it is awesome!!

Re: Hard Top Complete
 

Looks good Strick! Can't wait to see it on the boat.

I don't see any beers though, that's why you got frustrated in point #1. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Hard Top Complete
 

That looks awesome Strick!!! You do good work my friend.

Post some of these pics on THT as well. There are a lot of guys over there who would also love to see this.

Again, beautiful job! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Hard Top Complete
 

WOW !!!

Well done Strick....Are you sure this isnt your "day" job ?? [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

Re: Hard Top Complete
 

Strick-

Well done. Wanna make me one?

By the way....where can I buy those BURRO BRAND sawhorses? [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

-Ed-

Re: Hard Top Complete
 

Thanks guys for the nice comments. Scott M if you look real close in the second picture there is a corona on the work bench right next to the Dewalt flash light. Also there is a small garbage can that is not visable in any of the pics that has beer bottles in it as well [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Ed I got those saw horses at home depot $18.95 each.

Strick

Re: Hard Top Complete
 

That's freakin' cool

Re: Hard Top Complete
 

Nice top... Couple of questions... How are the legs going to attach to the top? How deep is the box? the pictures make it look kinda deep? Not to be a butt head, but being in the bussiness I'd have a hard time making that top work on a 23 Center Console. It would work great on a bigger walk a round type boat, I just feel its too big for a center console. Most 23's get a 5'x 7' top are you planning on putting an enclosure to the gunnels?

Re: Hard Top Complete
 

I am waiting for a quote for a new hardtop and enclosure for my '78 23' Sceptre - I'm sure will be exorbitant and not likely to come out nearly as well as yours. I am very impressed and very very jealous. Good luck and keep up the great work - can't wait to see this boat when you are done.

Chris

Re: Hard Top Complete
 

Chris,

Let me know what that quote is, if you don't mind. One day 'down the road' I wmight want a hard top too. Right now, I am in the throws of sanding and galssing and sanding and glassing and...

You get the idea. I tell you, re-doing a boat like this is a full time job !!! my mind is always thinking about different aspects of the project; from the exact type of electrical switches to use to re-fitting new tempered glass.

It is nuts!!! I mean, I am nuts !!!

Re: Hard Top Complete
 

Once again thanks for the complements fellas.

Don- the electronics box measures 24"x24" at the bottom. It angles up to 32" wide and 27" long were it attaches to the hard top. It is 10.5" deep. I usually use the e box for storage rather then actually putting radios etc up there. Not sure how we are going to attach the legs yet but Fishing Boats Unlimited (San Diego) says he will make it work. He usually makes a ring that fits the perimeter of the underside of the hard top that the legs attach to but I would rather have the legs attach directly to the hard top with some backing plates on the top side. My plan was to make it look as close to the the Yellow Fin hard top as possible. I realize that this is alot of stress to place on the Consel but my plan is to really beef up the inside of the consel with more laminate and composite before attaching the hard top to it. The consel would then be laminated with epoxy fillets to the deck. After I get the fuel tank out of the boat I plan on epoxying some fillets from the underside of the deck to the stringers around were the were the consel sits. After all that it should be sturdy. I wanted a big hard top and yes I was thinking of getting a canvas enclosure made for the winter time. What do you think?

Strick