boatinwater

Due to height restrictions in a dry storage rack, interested in 23 to 26 foot center consoles withOUT a factory installed T-top. The after-market folding T-tops (such as Fishmaster) seem like a good option for limited height dry rack space.

kwipp

You should be able to order any one you want without a t top.

marlinlane

also they make t-tops with quick release pins to lower the top easily

boatinwater

Seems over 22 foot most boats come standard with non-folding T tops... Sea Hunt, Robalo, Sportsman, etc.

First Light

T-tops are an option on most boats. You have the base price of the boat that usually includes the hull, a steering station and not much more, then you start adding $$$.

69Mach390

T-tops USED to be an option on most boats..... not anymore in the 23’ + size.

I have a bridge clearance issue, so height was a serious concern while shopping for my next CC.

What I found was pretty much every boat I looked at had a “standard” hard top.

Robalo
Sportsman
Tidewater
Scout
Sea Hunt
Mako
Boston Whaler
Pursuit
Grady White
Edgewater
Everglades
Sea Born
Cobia
Key West
Contender

Looked at them all and pretty sure they ALL had standard hard tops (except Mako, standard T Top) in their 23-24’ and larger CCs.

I honestly didn’t find a single manufacturer in that size where the top isn’t standard. I’m sure they exist (custom boats), but all the regular brands seem to have them standard.

The only one I remember is the C Hawk 25’. Top is optional. Super basic boat but built well and priced cheap.

rgmaree6

Young boats have built a few of their 27's without T-Tops. I know the Edgewater IS boats could be gotten without them. You can always pull the T-Top and have a glass guy patch the holes

JMarkB

i talked to a guy a couple months ago that had a Sea Vee hybrid. I think it was a 27’. No t top on it.

69Mach390

So Young, SV, and I just found the Barker 26 has an optional top.

What’s the budget? Because those are all top tier top price boats.

Onewolf

OP asked about center consoles and bay boats. I checked a bunch of companies that build bay boats and every one has models that come standard with no T-top (Pathfinder, Robalo, Tidewater, Key West, Scout, Blue Wave, Skeeter, etc etc)

69Mach390

Must be just their bay boats because all the CCs had a top standard.

Was kinda frustrating honestly. There were quite a few that got knocked off my list just because the standard top had a bridge clearance of 8’ or higher.

69Mach390

Another option is to buy whatever boat you want, then after you get it have an aluminum welder turn the factory top into a folding top.

I’ve seen a few threads on it and I want to say it was around $600 to get done?

May not work with all tops or some of the hard tops.

autobaun70

Standard or not shouldn’t matter a bit. Just make the request. Elder president bush had several fountains that were sans tops due to preference.

boatinwater

This seems correct. One of the largest deep V center consoles withOUT a standard top seems to be the Sea Hunt Ultra 234 (23' 7" length, 8' 6" beam).

Even the bay boats, the Robalo 246 Cayman (24' 6" length, 9' beam) seems to be the largest available withOUT a standard top.

Price point is up to about $125k.

How's the build quality of a Robalo versus a Sea Hunt or Sportsman?

Onewolf

Blue Wave 26 bay and Pathfinder 26 are available without T-top standard.

Cleared Hot

Dusky

boatinwater

Which bay boats (or bay hybrids) have the highest freeboard in the 23 to 26 foot length range?

STIPulation

Pair Marine, Privateer, Jones Brothers

69Mach390

Gause and Sheaffer come to mind. They may be in the price range without tops.

For your “Robalo vs Sportsman and Sea Hunt”
question. All three as similar quality and price.

boatinwater

For 70 percent family boating (sandbars, restaurants, dogs, etc.) And 30 percent fishing intercoastal and near shore, what's better a bay (bay hybrid) or deep V center console in the 23 to 25 foot range? Thank you!