t-top on a center console
 

i have a 23 center console.stern drive powered.the t-top keeps coming loose on the deck.it's not thru bolted.if i cut a deck plate where the top is bolted down,can i access the bolts ?? it's the original top.

Re: t-top on a center console
 

You could put some teak strips under the console , screwed and caulked to the deck and mount the console on top a la Mako.

Re: t-top on a center console
 

that's not an option.the top is secured to the console,wires are running through it,the top can't be raised.

Re: t-top on a center console
 

I had a similar problem a couple of years ago and Don from Pipe Dreams Marine fixed it for me by adding some additional gussets between the t top and console.

Don's shop is just down the street from you and he is a fellow SeaCraft enthusiast.

Great guy that you can trust

Peter

web page

Re: t-top on a center console
 

how are additional gussets going to repair the problem where the bolt holes on the deck are worn too big ???

Re: t-top on a center console
 

Is it thru-bolted or just screwed to the deck? If it is screwed and and the holes are worn out, why don't you just ream out the holes a little and fill them with thickened resin. Then redrill and screw into the new resin.

Re: t-top on a center console
 

So your question is that your Ttop basically is loose or ripped out from deck??!!!!!!!
Look for some stainless toggle bolts. I know they make toggle inserts for helm pedistals...might work to hold down t top securly as well. Or go with above option of epoxy...also might try cutting foam material a little wider and deeper than holes (like a cylinder shape), soak with epoxy..push foam material into holes until top half of epoxy soaked foam material is sticking above deck. After epoxy dries grind down dried epoxy/foam material and redrill for fasteners. The dried epoxy foam material will extend down past underside of deck and give your bolt more depth to screw into.

Re: t-top on a center console
 

After you get the fasteners taken care of, take it to Pipe Dreams and see about having your top stiffend up. There might even be a crack along a weld you don't see, causing it to flex and pull the fasteners

Re: t-top on a center console
 

Scrapper, I am guessing that they may have worn too big because they are getting too much pressure (because the console is not absorbing enough of the weight).

As some of the other members said you can fill in the holes with various materials (a couple of years ago I bought these composite rods [G10???] and used a 105/205 to glue them into my deck. Put your screws into that and they won't move again]).

I bet that if you called Don at PDM he would take a free quick look at it and tell you what the issues are (and how they can be best fixed) and at what cost.

Peter

Re: t-top on a center console
 

there's nothing in there to hold the epoxy-it will fall through.
that's why i'm asking the question about cutting a deck plate.this way,i can thru bolt the top.anything that is through bolted is much better than screwed into something.
i don't need to take my boat to pipe dreams marine.the top is in excellent condition,no disrespect,probably better than one made by them-no disrespect,i've seen his work.
i don't want to use a toggle bolt either-didn't know there was such a thing for a marine application.

Re: t-top on a center console
 

ouch...

Re: t-top on a center console
 

Scrapper,

I was just trying to help you out. Guess that was a mistake on my part.

Peter

Re: t-top on a center console
 

My t-top i could only through bolt it in a couple of places because of access to allow it. So what I did (not the prettiest but it worked) was take a coathanger, bend, twist it up so it would ream enough of the foam coaring out in the deck to allow enough room for t-bolts to flip open inside the glass. seems to work all -right and I have more crap on top of mine than the law should allow (radar, outriggerers, lights, antennaes, etc). I used the 1/4" 24? bolts that i bought at wm or bw. that was really the only size that the top was designed to have countersink into the feet on the top. craig

Re: t-top on a center console
 

The ones that I've worked on you can't get your hand in between the deck and the stringer. Even if you drill a hole you can't get your hand in there to put the hardware on. I guess you could drill two holes on each side, close to the legs, that many work but then you have four holes in your deck. Best bet is a winter time project of removing the top and fixing the holes the right way. Your in Court House.. is this your boat..? http://www.myfishpix.com/gallery/dat...244_Small_.jpg

Re: t-top on a center console
 

I have had good luck with the following technique in a different industry:
- Drill existing holes out to a common dowel size such as 3/8"
- Cut dowels 1/2" longer than thickness of material they are going into (e.g., the deck)
- Use a fine blade saw (e.g., a backsaw or dovetail saw) to cut a kerf 1/2" into one end of the dowel. You will insert this end first. I also take a sharp utility knife and score around the dowel and in the hole to give them "tooth" in the drilled hole.
- Coat holes and dowels with gorilla glue (or resin)and drive the dowels into the holes until they are a little below the surface of the deck.
- Let dry and fill with your choice of filler/sealer
- Drill small pilot hole through dowel before remounting, fill hole with 5200 or equivalent before resetting screws
- The dowel is bonded to the substrate, the kerf alows the tail of the dowel to expand slightly, further locking it into the hole
- I would also put a lot of 5200 under the mounting flange of the ttop and look at getting a few more braces from the top to the console fabricated.

My two cents worth. Good luck!

Re: t-top on a center console
 

Have you used "thickened" resin before? If you think it will fall through the hole, make it thicker. After the first application partially sinks down, add a second application to make it flush with the deck. No problem, 30 minute fix. Or......just cut a pie plate next to every screw needed (since that is the answer you seem to be looking for).

Re: t-top on a center console
 

not my boat.i've seen that boat for sale for a long time.my top is similar to that top.the screws are loose in the forward legs.i would like to thru bolt them.i called the guy who owns that boat you posted,he has a repair shop,he quoted me a price for a new deck-i don't need a new deck,it's fine.the screws vibrated loose,the top working up and down caused the screws to chew up the deck a little-the reason the screws are loose.
i didn't know if there was a bulkhead or something else under the deck,i asked if i could cut deck plates there,i thought someone on here would know.

Re: t-top on a center console
 

You can do it, just your gonna make swiss cheese out of your deck. As for it working up and down, It needs front stand-offs on the legs. The "V" brace is for side to side, front stand-offs are standard on all of my tops. Once you get it bolted down, I would recommend you get front stand-offs put on by someone or its going to spider the deck and loosen up again...Good luck with your project..

Re: t-top on a center console
 

5 posts and so many negative waves......
You were given many solutions already. You don`t need to fill the holes completely, just build up the edges to give you proper "tooth". Thicken up some epoxy with wood flour or milled fiber or both. Roll up a piece of paper towel and shove it down the hole to the bottom. Inject w/ hypo. , and release bubbles w a cocktail straw.When still affected by gravity push the ball down. Done deal. Oh , you also get the added benefit of knowing these holes won`t be the root cause of future deck failure.Nuf said!
I`m GFS and I approved this message!

Re: t-top on a center console
 

GFS---
nicely said, couldn't agree more

Fred

Re: t-top on a center console
 

not trying to be negitive,i just asked a question about cutting a few deck plates,got some wierd answers,that's all...
i had a glass guy come and look at it,he told me i needed a deck ?? the deck is very solid-not sure why or how he came up with that ?? i really can't see how a gusset or 2 is gonna change the situation either?? it seems to me,these tops should be thru bolted to the deck.i'm going to try the paper towel trick with the epoxy,i just was sure it would run and drip through the hole.i will let everyone know how i make out.thank you for the replies.

Re: t-top on a center console
 

Everyone is here to help..not to sound like a "suck up" but I have absorbed so much knowledge since I joined the site a short while ago...when it comes to resto/repairs of seacrafts this is the place ...and has helped me tremedously with my never ending money dumping project ..keep us posted on your results (with pics too)using GFS's method...I had the same problem with my pedistal seats coming loose as well and it was not my deck either (I utilized toggle bolts)!
Fred

Re: t-top on a center console
 

I'll stir this pot a little. I have a very similar top-I don't love the design because it has a lot of flex., but it's what I'm stuck with.
When I got it, my front legs had gotten loose, as well.
Here's what we did-
As others have stated, there's basically no wiggle room in there. On my boat we cut access through the gas tank hatch, which is in the console anyway, so it's out of sight. I suppose you could remove the hatch to do this work as well, depending on your application.
Once we had access, we took thick pieces of scrap aluminum and epoxied them in under the feet of the front legs(between the deck and the stringer), tapped the aluminum through the pre-existing holes in the deck, re-fastened the top. It hasn't budged in three years.
If your top wiggles like mine does-hopefully it does not, you might need more bite than the re-filled holes are going to give you.
Some worry about electrolysis between stainless screws and aluminum plate, but healthy coatings of 5200 or 4200 should solve that issue.