i got this idea for a hardtop

[coolbri70]

i was thinking of building a hardtop and while sourceing cheep windows on cl i got this idea then i thought. why not use the whole cap? it is fiberglass, i can cut it, grind it, modify it how i want, paint it. just cut off the end that go's against the cab at an angle to match the windshield and remove the rear glass. these are cheep with the back glass missing i think it would be something to build off any way a cool ladder and some stainless railing

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

interesting idea. make sure you keep track of the weight and deduct from your capacity. caps are heavy

 

[coolbri70]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

interesting idea. make sure you keep track of the weight and deduct from your capacity. caps are heavy

wonder how much it would weigh after cutting off the front and the rear 2 feet with the square windows i just want the long windows, its 8 foot i only want 5 or 6, maybe still too heavy

 

[Fireman431]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

wonder how much it would weigh after cutting off the front and the rear

Hmmm You would have though by now they would have invented something that when you placed an object on it, it could tell you how much something weighed... :facepalm:

 

[coolbri70]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

maybe i could rig up a beam and balance it then put the thing of unknown weight on one end then i could add items of known weight to the other side untill balanced i wonder if anyone has thought of this or tried it

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

Im thinking more along the line of two bathroom scales and add up the numbers, pretty sure Fireman431 had the same thought

 

[coolbri70]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

Im thinking more along the line of two bathroom scales and add up the numbers, pretty sure Fireman431 had the same thought

thanks i do have 2 bathroom scales

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

Think its actually a good idea. Lots of these old tops laying around for cheap. Some are cored with foam.. Not sure why you would want to use the windows. Are you talking hard inclosure of hardtop? I can see cutting away the sides and front and back and using the slab leftover. the glass will be the heaviest part of that top. The fiberglass,not so much. most truck toppers don't weight more than about 150 to 200 pounds even with the windows.. Good luck.

 

[Beefer]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

Interesting idea, but I don't see much available headroom. I do like the idea of taking it even further down, and making it into a T-Top. Hmmm....

 

[coolbri70]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

maybe cut on the bold lines to replace the vinyl one

 

[coolbri70]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

Interesting idea, but I don't see much available headroom. I do like the idea of taking it even further down, and making it into a T-Top. Hmmm....

just find one with a big flat top in the shape you want fabricate the edge or grind smooth, find some tubeing to mount it to. oh and these things can be had for free, i've thrown a couple away myself, think i was paid to haul one away at a junk removal job i did

 

[coolbri70]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

if i wanted a t top i could look for something like thisjust use the top and a little of the rounded edge

 

[Fireman431]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

A single scale would do it. Most scales read to 300+ lbs and most toppers don't weight that when complete. I guessing around the 80 lb mark when cut up.

 

[ziggy]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

maybe this will help. here's a couple pics of a boat w/ a factory sliding hardtop.

i suppose it's not much more than pu topper in reality. just made to fit at the factory.
maybe the pics can give ya some ideas.
this hardtop mounts to the boat on rails and slides fore and aft.

edit. only thing i'll say about the weight of the top is that my helm is pretty far fwd. compared to many boats. i don't know how much my top weights, it feels heavy when sliding it. but it is designed to be removed from the boat if ya want. though i've never removed mine. i like it in place.
as for the side windows. i'd try to keep them if possible. only on the hottest of days do i remove the side windows. other than that, they are protection from wind and seas..

 

[CaptOchs]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

Why not go all out with a full enclosure? Just like the BoVan.

 

[ziggy]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

Why not go all out with a full enclosure?

oh yeah. good idea, though ya don't have to go bovan to accomplish it.

very nice to have full enclosure. removable aft curtain.

 

[shrew]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

Lime Time is different and looks slick.

A man who cuts down a p/up truck cap to make a hard top for a boat, will own that boat for the rest of his life.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

I think it's a worth while idea, I love the looks of the older hard tops like Lime Time up there. If done right, it could look almost original. If done wrong, it could look horrid. I say go for it and post lot's of pictures.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

i was checking out pics of LimeTime when i got this idea, hard top envy i guess wonder how i could make mine like that?

 

[Mikeyboy]

Re: i got this idea for a hardtop

I say go for it. Worst case scenario it looks bad and you don't use it your out a little bit of money and some time but you'll know instead of wondering. Lime time is a beautiful boat btw.