[Water Rat]

Prior to my hardtop, I had the radar arch you saw in the pictures with a bimini and three sided isinglass (sp.?) enclosure. The top itself was made out of white sunbrella, and the bow system was designed to allow it to be folded up and stored along the radar arch, assuming you would do this in good weather.

I will look for pictures of the former set-up to put up here. The advantages to it were the ability to strike it when you did not want it up, and the weight.
The downside, for me, was I never took it down and although good, I would get some leaks in the enclosure seams when running in rain/heavy seas. With the hardtop, the enclosure is on tracks and is much more watertight. I also went to EZ2CY vs. isinglass.

Everything is a compromise. Another thing with the hardtop, I put two small Lewmar hatches in the hardtop for ventilation and also my "disco" lights. Let me know if I can be of further help and I will look for some pictures of the old top (might even have it laying around somewhere).