t top or not to t top

rcranium

New Member
Good day,
I have a CC 20 footer aluminum boat and have been tossing the idea of getting a t top installed. But I have a couple of questions;
floor mount or console mount?
rivnuts or weld
how it affects towing or navigating
wind push?
any info appreciated
 
My opinion,
If you have a center console,
Floor and console mount to some degree, or to the gunnels (saw some cool ones in the tropics), but from two different mounting locations for strength.
Welded aluminum pipe, maybe with canvas?
Shouldn't affect towing or navigating unless we are thinking of totally different ideas of t-top, although for navigating it would assist in mounting cool antennas or scanners...
As for wind effect, if the "roof" of canvas/good material is pretty much parallel to the water line and not too big, it won't be terrible.
If you're a new member, I'd search Sculpins posts for ideas, as well as Clintr and albernifishers. Check out Wolfs members boats thread for other ideas too.
Oh, and maybe move this thread to boats and rigs instead of general...
 
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I built a couple tops now, one for my 17 whaler that had just a sunbrella material stretched over and the one on my searay that is FG
Both were made from welded aluminium schedule 40 pipe.
The whaler I mounted both to the floor and the console as I couldn't get backing plates under the floor and I wanted to make it so I could fold it down for storage.
I was worried that it would act like a sail as I made it pretty big (wanted to maximize my covered space ) but it wasn't really noticeable except when running hard into the wind over waves, the boat felt much lighter.
Overall it was great and i would do it again in a heartbeat.
 
Thanks for the fast informative responses.
I was thinking of a 4 wide by 6 foot long aluminum top , slight dip to the front and the 5 feet from the windshield back would be parallel to the water line.
I have 1/4 " deck plates and thinner console material. everything is aluminum. I could use back plates and riv nuts for the console and deck plates.
 
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I used 1" for the top hoop and its cross braces and 1.5" for the uprights and supports.
All pipe so those are ID measurements
My mounting plates were cut from 1/4"

My top was 6" less than the beam and 8' long, close to 5' back of windscreen.
 
Have a look at Atlantic Towers or fish master t-tops. They make pre-fab units that can be easy to install. If nothing else you might get some tips.
Good luck
Stosh
 
If you want a Stainless Steel t-top - try Bolton Stainless Inc. Located in Vernon B.C. They do great work
Stosh
 
Bolton builds for many boat manufacturers, including Campion, Glacier Bay and Harbourcraft. I had a Stainless t-top built and installed by them about 12 yrs ago - still in one piece - no cracked welds.
Good luck
Stosh
 
I too have a Bolton SS Radar Arch that I have on my Striper that I bought in 2008. At the time Sherwood Marine was putting them on or offering them as an option. I just got one through Sherwood but I installed it by myself. It wasn't bad at all and like Stosh mentioned really great work.
 
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