Removeable boat hard top

[Bait O' Eggs]

When I ordered my Duckworth, I really didnt have all the experience and knowledge I wished I had. Ifish wasnt around to ask questions and educate myself. I just said "ya, I will take the top". :rolleyes: Little did I know some materials are better than others. I dont know what I ended up with, but is sure isnt like the topgun or sunbrella material. I got some sort of vinyl that was ok for the first couple years, then the thread started rotting out. I have had it down at the upholstery shop 3 times getting it resewn, the last time, they said dont bring it back, just give it a nice burial. :shocked: And the side curtains are so milky colored now you cannot see thru them anymore.

I leave the boat outside and dont want to go thru this process again in a few years, so I have been looking for a way to make or buy a top that will last a long time.

I have never taken the top down when I am on a trip. The top is either on, or it is off for a trip. And every time I took my top off I swore I would never do it again, as the material would shrink when off the boat, and it was a pain to get stretched back out and snap all the snaps.

I really like the look of some of the high end boats with hard tops, but when it is windy, they can be a pain as your profile is too big and you get pushed around.

I have decided that what I need/want is a removeable hard top, as it will last, and I can take it off if I dont expect rain, and have a full load of people in the boat. The down side is I will not be able to take it off when on the water, but I have never needed or wanted to do that in the past anyway.

Today I started making a top that is essentially a boat canopy with no back door. I wish my aluminum welding was prettier :rolleyes: but it should be sufficent to hold up.

It is gonna be a 1 inch aluminum tube frame with an aluminum skin over it, the entire unit can be taken off the boat with either 4 or 6 bolts (havent decided yet). I havent decided if I am gonna use the 0.032 or the 0.040 aluminum skin, I figured I would weld up the frame and see how many compound bends I will have to make to get it to fit. The thinner material will bend easier, but will dent easier.

I am gonna use windows in the side of the "canopy" that typically go in a canopy door when somebody has the double doors (16 by 26 inches). They come with a aluminum frame and will be easy to mount.

Getting the access door to the front of the boat in the "canopy" creates a lot of problems. Hinging a door in the top of a canopy is unique, and keeping it from leaking will take some creative options.

My drawings/sketches looked good on paper, but when I started trying to miter all the fancy angles today to get it to fit nice and neat, I felt like I was in over my head. The windshield on the boat has multiple bends and angles, which this "canopy" must fit over tightly. I hope the left side and the right side of the canopy match :shocked: :shocked:

It is starting to take shape, I hope to get the frame welded up in the next couple days and wrap it in an aluminum skin next week.

I am having fun on this project so far, and I think I can make the entire unit for $200 in materials.

It will be a one of a kind!!!

[Pete]

I might also consider the materials used in older aluminum pick-up truck canopies. The square profile tubing might be easier to fit the skin to and the semi-corrogated plastic coated aluminum used on truck bed canopies might be easier to fit to a curve. But it would probably be harder to work a front hatch into. Just a thought.

[smilesforu]

Cool project..slap some pics up when you finish.

[Rippenlips]

It sounds cool. I was watching this guy that builds aluminum trailers and he was putting the skin on the enclosed trailer and he said that he only puts the skin on when it is hot.(100 degrees) Other wise it expands and wrinkles and looks like sh**. He also was willing to give info and also let me try his spool gun out. He has a elec. box that you just dial in all the specs and it welds perfect. No pre-heating or even cleaning before pulling the trigger. If you want his number let me know.
Jon

[Bait O' Eggs]

Jon
Thanks for the tip on the degree thing on the skin. I hadnt thought much about it yet, but can see where it would get lots of wrinkles if put on cold. Not sure how I am gonna bring the temp up, maybe the wife will let me bring it in the house. :shocked: :wink:

I nearly finished the frame today, and am happy with it so far.

I am using a spoolgun for the welding, I wish I had a heliarc though.

I am planning on riveting the skin on, how did this guy attach the skin to the frame you were watching?? :whazzup:

[JPSFISHY]

Had a Duckworth for 6 years. Always kept clean, and inside the shop. The floor rotted out. I pulled it out myself, to find shop grade material, no treating. They refused to work with me. "I" put in diamond plate.
All manufactures know how vulnerable we sportsmen are. Once again, I didn't get exactly what I wanted. When we all turn into little children looking at new boats/vehicals/gear, we tend to loose site of the purse strings don't we. It's an illness. I'm so sick. I should be able to get disability. Forums like this sure allows us to communicate with each other "before" we buy. We certainly have the tools before us to help each other be smarter buyers, and have fun at it. We live in an area where there is alot of history and knowledge. Just have to find it. Good post. Thanks.. Merry X-Mas

[JPSFISHY]

Just a thought. As I build alot of BBQ's, I have a lot of shear and forming done outside. I mostly use BBC Steel in Camby. There are other small shops I'm aware of. I find that if I can provide accurate drawings/deminsions of the product I need, the time they save me in fab work and detail, is worth the charge. I don't do alot of aluminumumum, but have alot of fab experience. If I can be of assistance/advice give me a call anytime. I also have an open boat that I have considered a removable top for winter sturgeon. It would be a great learning experience. I also work with other shops, and if we need outside work, we might be able to "gang bang it". Save $$
E me if interested. JP

[Rippenlips]

Roy, the guy used 3M double sided tape and a heavy roller. The trailers are the best I've ever seen. He puts them in a huge plastic tent and then heats the tent to about 120 degrees. I have been a little sceptical about using double sided tape on things at work but it does hold. Some plastic body panels on the cars I work on use it and the longer it is on, the harder it is to get off. Merry Christmas.
Jon

[Bait O' Eggs]

Well, I got most of the boat top done. I have a hole the size of texas right now in the top, referred to as a sun roof at the moment. :rolleyes: I am not sure how to put the door in, If I hinge it to fold over the back (original plan) it will stick out the back about 5 inches and be a head banger from the back of the boat, If I hinge to the side, it will not have much support when open.

I may make a canvas type door so it can be snapped on each side and across the bottom, it seems the easiest at this point.

I learned a lot along the way, and wish I had the materials again to make it better the second time. Learnign curve thingy :rolleyes: :rolleyes: So far about 4 full days invested in work. Pete tells me I need handles across the back to hold on to, and I like the idea.

I riveted the top every 2 inches with aluminum rivets, and ended using a 0.032 thick aluminum skin. The grade of material was 5052 which may oxidize a little faster than the 6061, but the price difference was dramatic :shocked:

The frame fit really well before I put the skin on. Then I did one last weld across the top of the door, and didnt recheck the frame fit before skinning it. It tweeked the frame about 1/4 inch at the sides of the center door. It was quite a job to get the top out of the garage and on the boat (garage was not tall enough to make it on the boat). Once I put the skin on it, is pretty much the way it will be. I can suck that 1/4 inch out with the bolts when I bolt it down, but was a little upset it didnt fit like a glove.

Overall I am happy with it, and am in it for about $220 complete. Should last a long time.

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/5858131.jpg

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/2600141.jpg

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/3501141.jpg

[WaterDog]

At least is still looks like a boat, I think. :shocked: :wink: :tongue:

I guess Bait will never be hard to spot on the river or bay with a top like that. :rolleyes: One of a kind.………

Team Sheet Metal Siding (SMS)….I get it now! :wink:

[jet]

Not bad for a farmer...

I think you migh have something there. If you could get a few investers together and fine tune your top idea I bet you could sell quite a few of those to a market that is ready for something like that.

I for one would love to have a removeable hard top.

Jet~~~

[Bait O' Eggs]

Jet - It is nice to see somebody knows what they are talking about. I sort of felt like I was inventing the wheel, since I have never seen a boat with a removeable hard top, I am sure they exist, I just aint seen one. I bought the windows at a custom canopy shop and promised the guy I would bring it by and show him when done since he was inquiring if there was a market for boat canopies. I almost bought the alumunum from him painted, but it would have added $200 to the cost which would have doubled my investment and I wasnt sure if it was gonna be useable when I was done. I figured the boat isnt painted, why paint the top. :rolleyes:

Waterdog - :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue: :tongue:

And futhermore Waterdog, your on your second Motion Marine boat, need I say more? :wink:

Farmer Roy :whazzup:

[FishinMission]

Geez, Roy....that looks pretty good. Maybe you ought to try your hand on a home-made, fire-proof,
Aluminum smoker!! :grin:

[Pilar]

Hey Roy! Man that looks good. Do you bore easily? Or is this the antidote to 8 hours of daylight days?

How much does it weigh?

What will be the market name?

Seriously now, I admire your can-do spirit. You rock buddy! :grin:

[jet]

Actually I think you are the first to come up with this great idea for boats of this type.

No kidding, I think there a lot of guys that would love to have something like this. I have called the manufacturer of my boat and asked if it were possible to retrofit my boat with a hard top. The guy said it would be cheaper to sell my boat and order a new boat.

I like me boat it has history, and catches fish sometimes, I decided to keep the boat that I have and look for better tops that can be towed at 60 mph. he top that I have is Sunbrella and they say it can towed at up to 40 mph.Who goes 40 mph when traveling to the great fishing grounds. A new better top frame and top will cost around $500- $600... ouch! I guess I will just wear out the old one and then look at options.

Anyway I really like your concept...

Jet~~~

[Bait O' Eggs]

Pilar - I havent had it on a scales, but I think it is between 70 and 80 pounds. I wanted to go with the 0.40 alum skin, but it would have been tougher to cut with my tin snips and would have added at least 10 to 15 pounds and with a shortage of HP, every pound counts.

Mark - You cant let it go can ya, :wink: Do you have any idea how many times over the holidays visting family the wife let it slip out about the smoker? :shocked: :shocked: :wink: I think the story is up to a 5 alarm fire with the in-laws. :whazzup:

[RKB]

Bait O' Eggs
You could make your door hinge off the top like you wanted but put stops on it so it's at a 30 deg angle off the top when it's open there would be no way to hit your head on it.All though it would stick up in the back a foot or so this should not matter and would not be a problem when boating but you would have to lock it in place so if the wind caught it you would'nt brain some one.I've seen this on a Thunderjet or A Duckworth can't remember which one.
Good luck RON (RKB)

[Hookset]

Looking good Roy, are you feeling good too? You may have something going there. Is it to late for a table at the boat show?

I'm not sure a solid door is what you want. You may want a soft sumbrella door. I would worry about the noise, could be some serious echoing, maybe not. Maybe you should finish what you have and take a test run first.

I've seen some boat canopies on the Rogue. In fact one boats top was on rails and slid from front to back. This way they moved the chairs closer to the rods and stayed under cover by moving the top back with them. Looked like a neat idea.

Yea, like Pilar said, I like your creativness.

Nice job Roy,

Gregg

[Frozen Boater]

Hey Bait
Check out the hard top on this Wooldridge, it is something new they are doing, they started with their welded frame top and skinned over the top and added lights inside and carpet. It is totally removeable and you can unbolt it in about 2 minutes, weighs only 65 pounds.

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/3216231.jpg

[smilesforu]

right on Roy. How did you keep the budweiser labels from showing? Just kidding I like the creativity and can do spirit. Brackets, bolts and pop rivets to the rescue.

I would go with the canvas door thing instead of solid aluminum. Quite a few boats have the walk through door around here and they use the canvas stuff even on the hard tops. It can be rolled up out of way.

BTW sure sign your getting old..hiding from the weather. :tongue:

[OR Coast Range]

I like it. :grin: It appeals to my do it yourself nature. :shocked:

If your boat doesn't have a name yet, can I suggest Frankenboat?