Yard to Build Fiberglass Hardtop in PNW

[scurvydog_pnw]

Hi Folks,

A big project next year is to replace our bimini top with a fiberglass hardtop. We are looking for fiberglass top as we plan on putting 200+ lbs of solar panels up there.

Anyone have a good experience with a yard in the Pacific North West?

Cheers

 

[Ken E.]

I had Atlantic Towers make a hardtop to my drawings. They are on the east coast but as I recall, the freight wasn't outrageously expensive, shipped to Bellingham. It turned out great and fit the boat fine. The advantage of dealing with someone like Atlantic is that they are in the business of making hardtops, rather that dealing with a boatyard that does very few of them.

 

[mvweebles]

I would definitely try Atlantoc Tower first. They appear to be lightweight and they are used to shipping. Plus they are familiar with running lighting. All benefits. I had a hardtop built at a a yard. Turned our nicely but is a bit heavy. Pretty sure a specialist as KenE cites would do an even better job at a much lower cost

Peter

 

[rslifkin]

In my mind, getting someone to build a good top is the easy part. If you want light, just thin fiberglass skins over a foam core with solid spots where it'll mount. But having a good, sturdy mounting system that doesn't weigh a ton is the hard part and that's where the guys that build tops all the time are likely to do better.

 

[Comodave]

+2 on Atlantic Towers. We had a hardtop made for a previous boat and loved it. The problem is the shipping costs. But if you can figure that out they are great. They quoted a hardtop for our current boat that would have been 10’6”x11’ and would have weighed 200 pounds. But we decided we didn’t want a hardtop on this boat due to the possibility of making the engines seem noisier since they are right under the cockpit deck. We thought that it may contain the engine noise more, and they are noisy enough now.

 

[scurvydog_pnw]

+2 on Atlantic Towers. They quoted a hardtop for our current boat that would have been 10’6”x11’ and would have weighed 200 pounds.

Yup that is almost the same size as our bimini now 11'x11.5'. Yeah I think getting the internal foam core to lighten is not bad. We don't have a dingy up top so that plus no davit is like minus 1000 lbs.

Plan on putting 80/20 aluminum t-track on top so that would work if we asked them to layout spots in advance to mount.

Did atlantic tower also do the stainless support posts?

 

[Ken E.]

Did atlantic tower also do the stainless support posts?

Yes, although mine were aluminum. You would specify that with your order.

 

[Scooby5959]

I’m in the process of finishing up on aluminum hardtop ,I’m building myself learned a lot in the process. I did look at the hard tops that Atlantic tower makes they have some good photos showing the process they double skin them with aluminum very nice tops . don’t know the cost except I’m sure it’s north of $7000/8000 before you get to shipping. I have $2000 in materials ,weighs 250 pounds give or take 10 pounds. Used 2 inch aluminum schedule 80 pipe and 8th inch sheet aluminum that’s one of the lessons I learned . little overkill ,i could’ve done it for less money and less weight using lighter materials . It’s sturdy you can walk on it put a tender on it but I don’t really need that so if I did it over I would use lighter materials. Inch and a half aluminum tubing and aluminum panels typically used to build cargo trailers . they come pre-painted 18 gauge I think. that would work quite well material cost on that would probably have been right around $1000 so if you don’t need it strong enough to walk on I will go that route. you don’t need much to hold solar panels . I seen sailboaters attach solar panels to the Bimini top frames . you could use the solar panels For your top that’s another option. fabricators that I know are busy doing Boat refits and building new boats , you would probably have to wait till this winter to get a local fab shop to do it .Fiberglass I would have no idea where to send you. I pretty much just know metal fab guys everybody’s pretty busy right now .If you are private message me I can give you a couple of phone numbers that might lead to other numbers I don’t know

 

[twistedtree]

I’m sure Pacific Fiberglass in Ballard could do it. But I also can see the value in using someone who specializes in making them. At Pacific, I think it would be a one-off.

 

[scurvydog_pnw]

Yes I have used pacific fiberglass before. Good folks but, like you said one off for them. I heard Anacortes had someone that did hardtops. The research continues on that front. Probably also give AT a call tomorrow.

 

[Vanrove]

Yes I have used pacific fiberglass before. Good folks but, like you said one off for them. I heard Anacortes had someone that did hardtops. The research continues on that front. Probably also give AT a call tomorrow.

Where you able to find an option in the pwn?

 

[sunchaser]

Be careful:

Few vessels have been initially designed for hundreds of additional and unplanned for # 10 to 15 feet above the CG. Calculate the ballast required to counteract 200# 15’ above the CG and you’d be shocked.

Some years ago Art DeFever was commenting on this issue and routinely provided data to boat owners on allowable weight for over sized dinghies, hardtops and country kitchens added to fly bridges. Decreased stability from adding weight aloft is not a myth.

Where and how one cruises may be very different than then next guy. A decade ago a DeFever 44 was a live aboard with more and more stuff stacked high up. A tug wake rolled it over. It was concluded that significant added weight aloft was the culprit.

 

[Bmarler]

Where you able to find an option in the pwn?

You might contact nordlund in Tacoma. They have some talented glass guys.

 

[scurvydog_pnw]

So we looked at a few options and the hardtop project kept getting bumped for other projects. The reason for the hardtop would be for solar panels exclusively. Our bimini structure is in great shape and the material looks like new after 7 years.

I decided on an alternate solution for us this summer which is to put in a stainless steel arch at the back of our top deck. Similar to what I have seen some sailboats do. Normally this would not work for most boats as they use the top deck area to store there dingy. We don't have a davit and exclusively just tow our dingy as needed.

I figure I can get two residential solar panels on the arch and one on the top of the pilot house roof and get 1kw of solar "potential".

Appreciate the yard recommendation. Also yes on the CG we had considered that if we had put up a hard top the lack of dingy weight up top would easily offset the increase.

 

[Bmarler]

So we looked at a few options and the hardtop project kept getting bumped for other projects. The reason for the hardtop would be for solar panels exclusively. Our bimini structure is in great shape and the material looks like new after 7 years.

I decided on an alternate solution for us this summer which is to put in a stainless steel arch at the back of our top deck. Similar to what I have seen some sailboats do. Normally this would not work for most boats as they use the top deck area to store there dingy. We don't have a davit and exclusively just tow our dingy as needed.

I figure I can get two residential solar panels on the arch and one on the top of the pilot house roof and get 1kw of solar "potential".

Appreciate the yard recommendation. Also yes on the CG we had considered that if we had put up a hard top the lack of dingy weight up top would easily offset the increase.

if you have a bimini already, you can fit some stainless tube panel mounts to them. this however, makes it so you can't take the bimini down anymore.
you see these on the iversons design sailboat dodgers.

 

[mikehar]

I had North Harbor Desiel build mine last spring. It turned out great, but the birthing process was painful. If you go with them, I would recommend doing it on a fixed bid (it saved me) and having a flexible schedule (they will be late).

 

[Alemao]