Boat Tops

[rags]

I posted this question several months ago but now I am ready to get a top for my 19ft Super Vee. Can any of you Ifishers give me some advice on where to go? Also, do you really use your top very much? Will I be wasting my money or is it a good buy? Thanks for the feedback! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Thumper]

John, John, John, you need my sage counsel. Repeat after me... "I do not need a top"......repeat......"I do not need a top." Tops are for wooses. You got a real man's boat now. It is perfect. A fishing machine. Comfort is all in the mind. Rain and wind are your friends.

[Phish_on]

I had mine done at Bentley's Mfg (Milwaukie) which is apparently about the spendiest place - the quality of the materials and the workmanship was excellent though. This was about 5 years ago, so your mileage may vary. A friend just had his done at Stevens and was satisfied, I think.

I definitely use mine in both rain and sun, though I prefer to have it down. I wouldn't want to do without it! It makes a great difference in my attitude when fishing in nasty weather, along with my dear friend Mr. Heater.

... And if I wouldn't have tried to push it through the garage door with the canopy up ... well it even survived that stupid boat trick - the frame is slightly modified now [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

[Bait O' Eggs]

My boat came with a top and I never took it down for the first couple years. The wife says if I am going we need a top. Well the top has sat out in the rain and the threads have rotted, it is trailered in the up position which is not the best on them either. 60 mph and flapping in the wind is tough on the seams. The side windows have gotten so yellowed they are impossible to see thru. This year I finally broke down and took the top off the boat permanently. The fishing is so much better, no wind pushing me around like a big kite. The boat seems much bigger. I dont have to duck my head as I enter under the top to get to the front steering. Oh and the wife now stays at home. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] So think about it before you go get a new top made, you might have a good thing going and just not know it.

[No Pilgram]

I thought thats what rain gear was for. Remember our hail storms??? If you had a top up yesterday Snapshot would have torn it to pieces when he set the hook on that steelie in the Lewis. Just take your golf umbrellas with you!!! When are you going out again and where??

[fishbait]

Tops, we don't need no stinkin tops...

[FishinMission]

I prefer mine down...but if I'm anchor fishing and the wind is coming downriver, and if that wind is COLD....I'm all for it being up!!

[Perfect Drift]

Had top for my other boat, put it on the day after I bought the boat to see if it fit. Only one other time when the wife went.
NOT !! Mostly they are a sail and ya can't see through them.

[Fish mojo]

Has anyone used Jerry's out in Boring? I stopped by to look at his work and get an estimate for a top for my boat. His work looked good and the price was descent. Any comments?

Tim's Top Shop in Albany. Good work and much
cheaper than around here. He is probably hurting a bit since South River went under, since he was doing all their work.

[Rons]

Jerry's is great! I had my top and curtins done at Jerry's for about half the cost of Bentlys. I have recommended them to several of my friend with new boats and they have been very happy with the work he does.

[Hookset]

Rags, I fish an open boat with a soft top. For 70% of my fishing the top stays packed away. The other 30%, wouldn't be fishing if it wasn't for the top. There are many times the top makes all the difference in the world to fish or not to fish. Anchor fishing the top is usually up, trolling I keep it down.

Nice to have the best of both worlds.

When you go shopping for your top, check out the hardware. There is your basic cheap hardware with many plastic pieces and quality hardware has more solid metal componets. I didn't know enough when I purchased mine and thought a top was a top and everything created equal....NOT. Slutgoddes has a nice top for his boat, find out where he purchased his. It also depends how much you want to spend.

When you go in for an estimate, be prepared to explain how you want the top laid out, answers to the following.....length, enclosed bow or open, height....how much do you want to stoop, location of windows......how big, color, etc..... With the front and rear drops, I like to have roll up doors with nylon straps to hold them up, very standard but ask just in case, good for venting, pulling anchor and visibility while driving. About the height, if your running with the top up, do want to see over the top or through plastic windows? Visibility is terrible trying to look through, prefer to look over, again, something to think about.

Reminds me of a story. A couple years ago in my old boat fishing on the lower Rogue river. I was anchored next to two local fisherman with an older inboard Alumaweld, with windshield, top and side curtains. The rain was coming down hard, pushed by a 25 knot winds directly upriver out of the west and right into my face. Temperature wasn't to bad but very very wet. I wasn't worried since I have good quality rain gear. Except everytime I raised my arms a trickle of water ran down to my elbow, shirt was getting wet. Another problem is I wear glasses and looking through water droplets for hours is the pits. People in the other boat wore jeans and tee shirts. We chatted about fishing, bait and rigging for awhile and then the rain increased it's momentum. They ducked back inside for shelter and I hunkered down inside my rain gear. I kept watching them munching on chips, drinking beer and smoking cigars. Man, if only I had a top. After awhile the guy next door pokes his head around the corner and asks me a question......Hey, doesn't it rain where you live? I reply yes.......then why don't you have a top? , he asked. I didn't have an answer. Think about this next time you crawl into your rain gear. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

best of luck,

Gregg

[rags]

Gregg,
Thanks for the good info. I have decided to get a top for the very reasons you pointed out. Checked around and decided to take my boat to Jeff Jackson in Sherwood. He used to be the top maker for Stevens Marine and now has his own business. Price is very competitive if not lower than most. A few IFishers have recommended him. I've spent many a day in my driftboat with water dripping down my back. No More!

[Thumper]

Wus!

[WaterDog]

Jack,

I'm going to go out on a limb here, but my guess is that your wife doesnt go with you, does she? [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

I do more anchor fishing than trolling by a ratio of 100:1! I like being dry and warm while I watch guys in open boats get wet and go home early. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Guess I'm a WUS too! [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Thumper]

Is that why my various wives never enjoyed fishing???

Thumper,

Layed in an open driftboat and also fished the "a real man's boat" 20 foot open Predator with 150HP tiller and prop for many moons. Alas, age set upon me and I thought, man, why did I not get much wiser much younger!

Bah'ed the windshield and steering wheel for years. Top can be a pain in the butt, although when old or young bones can't take it anymore, a top combined with a nice heater sure can save the day.

Obvious times for it being up and times for it being down.

Spend the extra bucks for a "boot" for the main top, to put on it when it's down and stored, especially if it's going to lay down to be stepped on, dropped on, fish blood on it, spilled on, etc. Your top will stay new for years, or look like crap in no time.

Old man time isa' comin' Thumper. Ain't no WUS about it. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[blubeast]

Have had a couple of tops made by Tony's Tops in Tigard for a couple of boats... fair pricing, quality work, and service after the sale. Would go back again.

[GoFish]

I've got a 16ft sled and just had a top made. I only wanted it to keep the brutal Oregon sun from beating down on me all day. Only plan to use it if I anchor up. My tips include: "Top Gun" for the top material, double wall tubing for the frame, "pipe straps" instead of webbing for the front straps will significantly improve the overall strength of the top. I just got the Bimini top for now and may add side curtains later. Best investment though was the installation of the spray misters like they use in the vegetable department of the grocery store on the inside of the top. Now, when I start to feel like I'm drying up, I just hit a switch and I'm back in good ole Oregon again. Beats sitting there in dry rain gear!!!

[rags]

Jack,
Out of respect I will leave the top down when we team up on stormy days. Now, if you beg me to put it up I will consider it but I certainly don't want us to look like a couple of old "wuses" on the river.
John

[Fin]

Jack:

Why is it you always want me to take my boat with the top and the heater for springers? [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

[FishinMission]

If you see me with MY top up...you're more than welcome to call me a "Wuss"..but at least I'll be a DRY "Wus"........