t top advice needed - The Hull Truth

gwstrike · 02-26-2006, 10:16 PM

Need t top advice. I have a 25' grady cc. I want a t top for it, being in Ohio there is a lack of t top advice / experience in the area. I need to know a few things like.
Would you get a light, medium or dark color for the cloth?
Stainless or aluminum?
What size tubing would you recomend for the verticals, as well as the rings?
What accessories would you get on the top? lights, mounts, rod holders, life jacket storage?
An websites that you would recomend I could get some good pics.

I am probably going to get this made locally, and I want to have as much info as possible so I don't get something I don't want. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks Bob

Stretch · 02-26-2006, 10:28 PM

Here are some sample pics from a fabricator in southwest Florida that definitely know what they are doing when it comes to T-Tops of all shapes and sizes:

http://www.actionweld.com/t-tops.html

flyau98 · 02-26-2006, 10:52 PM

http://www.birdsallmarine.com/
They make some really nice ones, and there is a bunch of pictures. My recommendation would be to go with Aluminum (for weight), Life Jacket Storage designed in is better than the T-Bag things, a spreader light on the front and back, florcescent light underneigth, the all-around nav light up top, and mounts for whatever antennas you'll want (VHF, GPS, AM/FM, Satellite Radio, RADAR, etc). Some folks also run outriggers out of their tops.

I think the color is more personal choice. They say dark colors protect the canvas better from UV, as the darker dye absorbs the UV before it gets to the fabric.

jawz · 02-26-2006, 11:20 PM

you want an aluminum frame-the stainless is not really a good choice-don't get the canvas top,get a fiberglass top-it will last longer and look better....you want a pair of "porch lights" that would be spreader lights-you need a white all around light on top for anchor light and the stern light too...put all your antennas up top...you will need antenna plates....now if you clean the aluminum after using the boat and wipe it down once a month with corrosion block spray on a towell it will look like new for years.......

dogboy · 02-27-2006, 12:36 AM

there is a reason why they are so complex.....too simple a design will lead to fractured welds.....

FishBait007 · 02-27-2006, 01:04 AM

I just had a T Top installed. My boat is a 20' 4" Cobia. (Cobia 214)

1. I went with the brushed aluminum,(easy to take care of and lasts, just wipe down with WD40) saw one that was 7 years old and it looked like new.

2. Have a double ring top. By this I mean the canvas curves down, keeping the sun off you better.

3. I went with a color that complemented my boat, The trick here is to USE GORTEX Thread. It is more expensive but will last a very long time. It is usually the thread that goes not the canvas.

4. I have 3 lights, 1 in the front 2 in the rear, besides the NAV light.

5. I have 4 rod holders. They are gold colored, allthough there is no difference between the gold or regular ones, they just cost alittle more. The person that did my top had some in his shop and added them for me, because he wanted it to look nicer. He did not charge me extra.

6. Electronics box. He curved extra tubes into the box to run all the wires down into the console. Keeping the wires out of site.

7. I also have a life jacket holder in the top. Holds 4 very easily

Here are some pics. Sorry they are so big, but you can get a better look at the top. The main tubes, I believe, are at least 1 1/2 -2 in. in diameter and are glued and screwed into a plate below the floor. They are also attached to the center console.

Hope this helps.

Here are the pics.

<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/Bigred007/HayleyontheCobia.jpg"

<img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y224/Bigred007/Cobia2.jpg"

gwstrike · 02-27-2006, 10:31 PM

Thanks everyone so far for the input. Does anyone have a frame made out of stainless??? I have a lot of guys up here willing to work with it.

Red_Tag · 02-28-2006, 09:10 AM

My last boat had a stainless t-top. Cracked in a half a dozen places multiple times. Serious pain. Stainless welds get very brittle.

New boat has an alum t-top.

HullSlap · 02-28-2006, 09:30 AM

Here's a few photos of my custom top. I really like the curves that follow the lines of the boat. I went with 6 rod holders, integrated life jacket storage, florescent cockpit light and navy blue Sunbrella fabric.

bravo-4 · 02-28-2006, 09:17 PM

You might want to check out the Smith line of stainless they are adjustable and very sturdy, I build tops for a living and have never seen one of the smith tops crack, you can go to my site and click on the smith products link. http://www.s-smarine.com

RussH · 02-28-2006, 10:49 PM

GW- I have a fold down T-Top that was the prototype from the the guy that made the top. The great thing about the top that I
like is that I can fold it down to get the cover on or if I'm fishing alone. One thing most don't consider is how much air the top
resists to slow you down. I have the prototype and the guy that built mine has the patent on the fold down version. He is located
right over the line in Michigan and I can assure you the top is "topnotch" and he is looking for new boats to size the top to.

Let me know if your interested.

Russ

jfdlaw · 02-28-2006, 11:22 PM

Bob, If you are in Ohio there is only one place to go. Lakeside Marine in Lakeside Ohio (near Sandusky). Talk to Keith Joy. I'm in Western NY, about 10 hours away, but we all take our boats to Keith when we need custom aluminum fabrication like T-Tops. I had him build one for my Edgewater 185cc last winter and its one of the best tops I've ever seen. My brother has the identical boat with the factory t-top and there is no comparison. The factory top is a joke. I know I sound like I'm on his payroll, but I've never been more pleased with a contractor's work. (BTW I'm not in any way connected to this operation) Give Keith a call and talk to him. The prices aren't cheap, but he'll spend the time to design exactly what you want, and then build it. Here's their website.

http://www.lakesidemarine.com/aluminum.html

barge · 02-28-2006, 11:29 PM

Hullslap

The photos of those welds looked like Quality T-Tops welds.

HullSlap · 03-01-2006, 12:23 AM

barge,

The guys at Sanchez Brothers in Ruskin, FL don't fool around. Impressive work but they're not cheap. They guarantee the aluminum welds for life assuming you don't destroy the top on a low overpass or tree branch.

BaitWaster · 03-01-2006, 12:33 AM

"Vents" in the top if you plan to have rods >=7' in the boat's built-in vertical rod holders.

gwstrike · 03-01-2006, 08:36 AM

I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY FOLD DOWN TOPS YET, ANY PICTURES?? BOB

gwstrike · 03-01-2006, 08:38 AM

REALLY A NICE LOOKING TOP, I THINK THAT I WOULD WANT THIS STYLING FOR MY BOAT. WHAT SIZE TUBING DID THEY USE FOR THE TOP?? AND IF YOU DON'T MIND HOW MUCH WAS IT?

Mumblerone · 03-01-2006, 10:08 AM

I would not go with a local builder unless he has specific experience with T-tops for your boat. There is a lot more to the design than meets the eye. This is a BW factory top that is powder coated white. You want to be sure that the wires/cables can run through the tubes without chafing. Proper mounting points for radar, antenna, lights, rod holders, etc. The loads on a T-top are tremendous. IMO the main struts shoud be thru bolted to the floor Vs T-top mounted to the CC only. I would also get a fiberglass top the next time, although this canvas top is on its 10 year with out a problem at all. Keep us posted.

gwstrike · 03-01-2006, 05:11 PM

I must say that there are some extremely nice tops out there, but I think the nicest ones that I have seen are the ones that you guys have sent me. I really appreciate your input and the time that you have spent sending me pictures of your boats. I have really gotten a education so far on what I want for a top, I will try to keep you all informed as to what I will be doing. one of the prices I have gotten so far are around $3700 from lakeside marine, and I am also talking with some other places. I have been weeding out the guys that say they can do it, just by asking some questions and seeing how there answers compare to what you guys have told me. really - thanks Bob Kruppa

gwstrike · 03-05-2006, 09:57 PM

Hey guys Thanks for all your input, I got the name of a company called arc-tek in CT. I believe that I am going to have him build the top for me. I decided on a hardtop, 6 pole holders, spreader lights, electronics box, and life jacket storage under it. Here is a I am triing to attach a picture to this so you can see a sample of his work. I thought it looked great. I will try to post pics when it gets done (I think april sometime) ps does anyone know what type of fishing is good out of mystic seaport in april / may??? Thanks Bob