After about a year of kicking ideas around I FINALLY got it together and built a hard top for my 1971 SLICKRAFT SS-235. I saw a factory HT and hated that it was only 49 inches from the cockpit sole, USELESS for a 6 footer like myself. The inside height is now 79 inches from floor to the lowest part of the crossmember. <br /><br />I made the frame from 2 inch O.D. schedule 40 aluminum pipe, and the top from a laminate of 1/4 inch douglas fir marine grade ply and fiberglass.<br /><br />I had the pipe bent to match the inside angles of the gunwale and sole bolster. I got it bent at a muffler shop in town. I hand polished the pipe to as much as aluminum can look like chrome. <br /><br />The joint hardware came from a fence supply firm and is locked into place with set screws. I didn't like that so drilled and tapped the fittings for 1/4-20 and bolted it from the inside. I cut starboard and made a spacers for the whole top inside edge to compensate for the fittings depth upon installation. I caulked both sides and the front top to prevent spray from getting in there. <br /><br />I painted the tops outside with 4 coats of one parts ployeurethane enamel porch paint brilliant white. The top is attached with 1/4 20 bolts tapped through the top into tapped holes in the aluminum frame and presealed with 5200. The top has curved edges and a bow to shed water. The bow is 2.5 inches max in the middle. I also built a drip adge at the back of the tops edge to shed water off to the sides. <br /><br />I don't have a URL for my pics, maybe I can find a way to get them on later...
<br /><br />With 33 posts, surely you must have seen posted pictures in this forum?
