Flybridge hard top

[GMS]

Looks great!

I am curious why they didn't just attach the aft end of the top to the radar arch - after the nice job of forming tubing to match seems like it would have been fairly simple (and could have avoided the aft bracing).

 

[ksanders]

Looks great!

I am curious why they didn't just attach the aft end of the top to the radar arch - after the nice job of forming tubing to match seems like it would have been fairly simple (and could have avoided the aft bracing).

It is very much attached, sorry I did not share the photos.

I had the aft bracing added because I did not want the arch to need to support the weight. It seems strong but i was concerned.

 

[tpeter]

Here is the finished product.

The only thing left to do is fore them to turn the radar mount around and get it secured.

Ken, I found a good looking hardtop for your boat at Vanisle marina web site, go to web cam view in the storage yard. Cheers

 

[luna]

Well the roof looks great, but that was the easy part as I think all you really had to do was make a few decisions and write the cheques. Having the money to make the cheques good, is in itself, no easy feat.
We all have limits on the work we can actually do ourselves. Good on you for knowing those limits.
The hard part, at least for me, measuring, cutting and sewing the fabric/clear vinyl is still to come. I'm sure you will do a fine job on this finishing work. I would be hopelessly lost.

One thing that I have been perplexed about from almost the start of this thread is the design of the 3 lines of interior longitudinal (those parallel with the keel) tubes in the roof framing. The 2 outboard lines are single tubes, all aligned. The centerline longitudinal tubes are a somewhat awkward looking combination of double tubes for the end spans and a single tube in the center span. Nothing really lines up. Kinda like this =-=

What was the logic used to come up with this design?
Perhaps it's just as simple as this is the signature of the artist that created this jem!

 

[ksanders]

Well the roof looks great, but that was the easy part as I think all you really had to do was make a few decisions and write the cheques. Having the money to make the cheques good, is in itself, no easy feat.
We all have limits on the work we can actually do ourselves. Good on you for knowing those limits.
The hard part, at least for me, measuring, cutting and sewing the fabric/clear vinyl is still to come. I'm sure you will do a fine job on this finishing work. I would be hopelessly lost.

One thing that I have been perplexed about from almost the start of this thread is the design of the 3 lines of interior longitudinal (those parallel with the keel) tubes in the roof framing. The 2 outboard lines are single tubes, all aligned. The centerline longitudinal tubes are a somewhat awkward looking combination of double tubes for the end spans and a single tube in the center span. Nothing really lines up. Kinda like this =-=

What was the logic used to come up with this design?
Perhaps it's just as simple as this is the signature of the artist that created this jem!

That was just for looks on the part of the fabricator. It looks good and his techgnique made for a unique and interesting end product.

 

[Comodave]

The hard part, at least for me, measuring, cutting and sewing the fabric/clear vinyl is still to come.

That is isn’t too bad. I put aluminum keder strips on the underside of my hardtops. Then you sew a bolt rope on the top of the panel and slide it into the keder strip. Then proceed with making the sides and bottom of the panels to fit.

 

[ksanders]

The hard part, at least for me, measuring, cutting and sewing the fabric/clear vinyl is still to come.

That is isn’t too bad. I put aluminum keder strips on the underside of my hardtops. Then you sew a bolt rope on the top of the panel and slide it into the keder strip. Then proceed with making the sides and bottom of the panels to fit.

I have done my own canvass work before, and did a really good job.

This time after ordering all the materials to do it myself, I decided to hire a local canvass specialist. He is not cheap, at $4k USD for his labor, but the results will be perfect, making for a beautiful addition to my boat that does not look "home made"

 

[Jaep]

Second Nida core or Corecell honeycomb material. It is plastic honeycomb material with fiberglass top and bottom. Can purchase with finished gelcoat in different thicknesses. Very easy to work with, very light and strong, fairly cheap. Put 1/2" roof on my fishing vessel, just had to glass seams and finish ends.

 

[Polaris]

Carbon core sells direct from their factory in South Carolina and can provide a shipping quote.

GB,
Were the edges finished or is that something you had to do? Are you attaching a fitment for side enclosures?
Photos?

Thank you,
Alan

 

[GB42-424]

GB,
Were the edges finished or is that something you had to do? Are you attaching a fitment for side enclosures?
Photos?

Thank you,
Alan

Edges are not finished. I filled with epoxy and attached structural PVC foam. An more simple approach is to attach to a tube boarder.

 

[ksanders]

Here is how it looks today.
There is another small piece to still be installed behind the arch next week, and then the aft of the enclosure to fabricate.

 

[SteveK]

wow, that looks real wonderful. Love the full windshield, must be one of a kind as I do not recall seeing one before.

 

[lwarden]

That came out great, Starboard was a good selection for this. It looks very similar to the hardtop on my last boat.

 

[ksanders]

Thanks guys!!! I'm super happy to have the additional dry, wind free space.

This adds just short of 100 square feet of additional enclosed space on the boat. This space will be invaluable on our adventure up the coast which starts in 6 very short weeks.

Prior to the modification, the space was basically unused. It was either cold, or windy, or too much sun, never just right.

 

[ksanders]

We have now completed the aft section of the hard top. The only item on the to-do list is the aft canvas.

Here are a few photos.

 

[Comodave]

Looks great.

 

[Mac2]

Coming along very nicely. Great lines.

 

[heysteve]

I don't know, are you sure that fabulous grill will be out of the rain? It'd be a crying shame to have to get wet using that thing.

 

[sealandsky]

I've contracted with my local stainless steel expert to build a hard top support for my Bayliner 4788

Now it's time to decide exactly what to have him build.

What I have is an existing Radar arch. That will stay, and the hard top will extend foreward.
What I want to do is add windows on the front, and the sides. The windows on the aft part of the sides can roll up.

The idea of the hard top is/was that the stainless guy would fabricate the metal, and then I would cover the hard top with starboard like my friend did in the attached photos.

But... what if i had the metal guy just finish the job with sheet stainless steel? I need to figure out the weights but starboard isn't light, would stainless be lighter or heavier.
Would it look funky?
What would you do?

Here are some photos of my friends hard top, and some good shots of my flybridge

My flybridge has a similar pipe structure for my top, but mine is covered in Hypalon that is stretched tightly across and secured at the edges with some sort of linear clamping device. Also, my pipe is aluminum but I'm on the Great Lakes so don't have salt issues to be concerned with. The installation was done prior to my acquiring the boat, so some of the specifics are lost but it has worked well. When there is heavy rain or hail it's loud - But that's not all that common.