Altering a Vega

Willard 36 Variation

There is this Willard 36 version, of which a few were built. The engine placement seems to be different in each 36. This engine room is full width and accessed through the center cockpit/pilot house sole. The center raised salon is over the two 200-plus gallon fuel tanks. Lots of steadying sail.

Hello,

We are adding a hardtop to our 1963 36 Willard motor sailer. She hull number 23, with a -5 on the plastic nameplate. We plan a windshield and two side panels, using hull/deck lines for guidance. The aft to be canvas with clear lights and roll up sold panels.

The photo shows temporary location for vertical fine tuning the top is currently on adjustable support

On temp supports for fine tuning attitude, and height.

Nice work, Bdidier.

It compliments the boat nicely. A well thought out hardtop always looks much better than canvas.

Any pics of the finished project?

Some progress

Some pictures along the way. Minute adjustments to attitude till it felt right, about 5/8" up in back, down about 3/4" in front. Measuring to cabin top all around to even out and keep parallel. Double checking fore and aft to cockpit sole,about 6'-3 headroom. The cockpit sole has a teak layer that will be removed for more vertical space.

The aft upper logs and posts are sapele, 2-1/2" x 3", will be chamfered. They extend through the coaming and are epoxied to both side of the glass structure with 3/4" plywood "flanges" through bolted to the posts. The posts are parallel to the molded in glass lines of the cabin top, both ahead and aft of the step through to the center cockpit. Even with only the six posts the top is rigidly fixed to the cabin. Windshield assembly and aft brace yet to be attached in these pictures.

The silicon bronze brackets both sides are 3/16" x 1-1/2", cut and welded to correct angles, with 5/16" bronze bolts. Some more welding today on the triangular silicon bronze aft brace. PVC mock-up of 1-1/8" bronze tube brace in the last photo.

All the temp supports are out and the windshield templating is tomorrow. The S4S sapele is waiting on the bench in the shop.

Willard had a nice setup on some of their 36' cruisers like mine wherein two 2" pipes come up from the cockpit deck to support the overhead but they are in the cockpit not on the caprails. This makes line handling & fishing a lot easier and allows the large cockpit table to slide up against the overhead for storage and two other convenient heights as well.

Didier this is looking good . You’re gonna love the hardtop .

We already love the expanded cockpit. Dry space is important up here!