convertible top?

[xjdriver]

Hey guys im thinkin aboat adding a vert top to the sea mist, i think bimini tops look goofy on old runaboats so im goin for the low profile style that attaches to the windshield. Here in fl it sucks bieng out in the open during the middle of the day, so i need some shade. This is going to be sort of a winter project, im not even sure if im going to like how low these tops are, im 6,3 but they do look cool and shady. Does any one have plans to build one, or mabey have one layin around let me know. I saw some on ebay for bayliners and other brands but not sure if they would fit, and are pricey. Is there somewhere to buy these? Heck, i cant even find a good pic of what im talking about, but i think you guys get the idea. Also if anyone runs a top on a classic runabout, could you put a pic up? Need some ideas.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: convertible top?

In Florida, I'd be surprised if you can't swing a broom & hit a canvas/awning maker that would be more then capable of fabbing one anyway you want it.

It's tubing, angles, joints & some canvas. How much are you prepared to spend paying someone else? VS The time, effort, energy & materials necessary to fab it your self.

Look at pretty much any fold down top & you'll get an idea of what brackets & hinge pieces you'll need. You can buy those & buy inexpensive PVC/CPVC and mock it up (repeatedly) until you figure out how to make it fit your boat, it's windshield & give you the head room you want/need. THEN buy the stainless tubing & cut/bend it to shape & bolt it together.

Then you can have a canvas shop make the canvas or do it yourself.

Grandad did a fabulous convertible top for his SC:

His thread:
Starcraft Holiday Reno and Hull Repair

PM him if you have any questions, I'm sure he'd be happy to help. He used modeling software to virtually build it first:

 

[xjdriver]

Re: convertible top?

Ya i think i could tackle the frame myself, and have the canvas made, im going for somethin like this...


It looks like i just need to have one bow like thing which i suppoted by the canvas itself.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: convertible top?

The frame is nothing more than a three bow bimini frame. The difference from a bimini is the fabric is lengthened to attach to the top of the windshield. Often clear vinyl windows are in the extended fabric. That's the way mine is. Grandad's doesn't attach to the windshield like a convertible top.

 

[RiverRat1060]

Re: convertible top?

Not sure if this is what you're after ... Very happy with top, rear section is removable. I paid more for the top than I did for boat and trailer.

 

[Grandad]

Re: convertible top?

Hi xjdriver, I've found that the original design is not near as useful as a bimini for the type of boating that we do. A bimini doesn't give you much protection from inclement weather, but it does let you stretch your legs instead of duck-walking around the cockpit. I'm thinking about making a tonneau style cover for travel and storage. - Grandad

 

[laurentide]

Re: convertible top?

This company has great prices and will install zippers so you can bring it to a custom shop for full enclosure pieces: ANP inc. | Products

I've done quite a bit of research on this subject, and this seems like the way to go if you don't want to get an industrial sewing machine. I'm planning on the custom curtain pieces to be at least three times the cost of the bimini and frame.

This site has cheaper biminis, and a few members have them and like them: RV Covers : Trailer Covers : Boat Bimini : Golf Cart Covers : SafeGuardCovers.com

 

[xjdriver]

Re: convertible top?

Ok, thanks guys. Now you got me thinkin if i should go with a traditional style bimini so i could actually move around under it, but i really like the look of the low profile convertible top, hmmm think im gona have to think about this one some.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: convertible top?

Make a bimini & add a removeable panel down to the windshield, not low profile, but when you just want to be out of the sun you'd have head room. When the weather turned, you could add the windshield panel & keep the wind/rain out..............

 

[laurentide]

Re: convertible top?

Yeah, JB's idea is a good one. The 5 or 6' bimini would be a lot more functional than the runabout style canvas, IMHO. I frequently used a wooden runabout with a low hard top in my youth, and, while it provided great sun/rain/spray protection, not being able to walk upright under it was a huge PITA. And you can't see your boat when you're driving it

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: convertible top?

It couldn't be as tall as Grandad's or as far forward:

but I think it could be done & made to look good...,.. Of course GD's ^^^ is so high to be integral to the tower....

 

[tgp***]

Re: convertible top?

Could you stand up under here??

 

[xjdriver]

Re: convertible top?

Lol that things funny lookin, and no, i dont think i could. But now im leanin towards like a 4-4.5ft bimini, i think its around 2ft from the floor to the top of the gunwale, so i should have some room. Now gota do some shopping around!

 

[laurentide]

Re: convertible top?

Could you stand up under here??

This is what 99% of the salmon trollers have set up around here. It's an extremely functional design for both sun and bad weather.

 

[barato2]

Re: convertible top?

maybe not so functional in FL, tho, unless one is seeking to lose weight via copious sweating or build a slow cooker?

 

[laurentide]

Re: convertible top?

Ha, yeah, good point barato. Guess I missed that part.

 

[xjdriver]

Re: convertible top?

maybe not so functional in FL, tho, unless one is seeking to lose weight via copious sweating or build a slow cooker?

Ya lol, an oven. Im going with a bimini, anyone know if I would be good going with like the cheapest I could find? Or should I buy a reputable brand? It wont see to much use. Never really looked them up before. Seems like im lookin at around 200bucks.

 

[tgp***]

Re: convertible top?

Its all in how much you use one. I use the one on my Nassau, in all types of weather. Wish I had the back encloser for overnighters when its at a dock and it rains over night everything would stay nice and dry. I picked it up for $45 used. Been really handy. I extended the length on the back bow so it stands up a little higher in the back. I can't stand up under mine either. I have to go the the back of the boat out from under it to stand up. I sure would like to find a full enclosure for it though, that would really nice.

 

[barato2]

Re: convertible top?

xj, i suspect most of the cheap ones are comparable...they'll all use plastic fittings and thinwall 7/8" alum tubing. Esteemed Sponsor has em, among others. i got one of the cheapest 2-bow numbers out there for my portabote (about $175, IIRC), and it is still holding up fine after 5 years of hideous abuse in the Sea of Cortez. i use it for a safety grab handle (not recommended by mfgr, i'm sure) and even taped PVC rodholder tubes to bows so i can troll 5 lines w/o tangling....it's stood up to strikes from billfish.

i ended up dropping fairly big $ on mine for the 18' Holiday (about 600, 2x what i paid for boat/motor/trailer:facepalm because i wanted 1" stainless tube and fittings so i could use it for grab handle when things get hairy offshore, 54" tall so i could stand under it AND so it would be a bit above my head rather than having the hot fabric 2" from my face, and 8' long so it covered as much of boat as possible. i figure that, after fuel costs, sun exposure is the single biggest limiter on how many hours a week i can fish so this seemed to make sense. i did cheap out on the fabric, got the cheap poly rather than the Sunbrella because this saved 200ish and i figure i can upgrade in the future....bulk Sunbrella is way cheap on fleecebay, and it doesn;'t look like this would be too hard to sew.

if you're anything like me, you'll find you use it a LOT more than you think you will. even the little 5' number on the PB makes all the difference in the world to boat comfort.

 

[xjdriver]

Re: convertible top?

Ya I could see how a full enclosure would be cool in some places, but not in fl. I need somethin to keep the sun off my head, and I still want to be able to just about stand up.