Hard Top Saga - Episode II

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Hard Top Saga - Episode II

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Hard Top Saga - Episode II

Posted by Cindy Wallach on February 03, 19100 at 10:30:56:

Ok..

So now everyone has raved about their hard tops and we want to add one to s/v
Neshamah (Hull #3) even more than we did before. Add to this the fact that our
tired old bimini saw its final battle during the recent snow and ice storms here
in Annapolis. The weight and moisture of the snow loads together with about an
inch of caked on ice really did her in. (ahh the joys of living aboard in a
winter climate)
Here's the catch. Being young and broke - there is NO way we can afford to buy a
hard top from PDQ - even if we drove to Canada to pick it up. So being young and
a little crazy, we going to try and build one ourselves. We have an industrious
group of friends who claim (yikes) to know how to do fiberglass work. And we'll
either try and retro-fit it on to the arch we have or try and strike up a deal
at the metal shop in town for a new support. We've never tackled a project quite
this big - but it seems to be the only way

So here's where we need help. Anybody who has any good photogrpahs of their hard
top / cockpit that they could e-mail or snail mail (I WILL return them, I
PROMISE!) OR anyone with some free time who's willing to take some detailed
photos of their hardtop as a goodwill gesture -- it would be a GREAT help

Measurements would be great too. Right now we only have the very wide shots off
the PDQ web site

Better yet is there anyone on the Chesapeake Bay who has one that we could come
look at and measure and photograph?
And finally -- any words of wisdom or general advise from any of you more
experienced salts out there on how to approach this project would be greatly
appreciated!
Wish us luck and hopefully by the end of the summer you'll see us out there with
a roof over our heads that doesn't leak!
Cindy Wallach & Doug Vibbert & Schooner-dog
s/v Neshamah / stretch 36 hull #3
980 Awald Road
Annapolis, MD 21403
cwallach@nahb.com

Follow Ups:

Re: Hard Top Saga - Episode II Darian Marie Pringle/Tranquility 16:53:07
2/17/100 (0)
Re: Hard Top Saga - Episode II Jeff Morris 17:34:09 2/03/100 (0)
Re: Hard Top Saga - Episode II Dale Koonce 13:04:22 2/03/100 (0)

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Re: Hard Top Saga - Episode II

Posted by Darian Marie Pringle/Tranquility on February 17, 19100 at 16:53:07:
In Reply to: Hard Top Saga - Episode II posted by Cindy Wallach on February 03,
19100 at 10:30:56:


Really suggest you go with Jeff's idea rather than make this your first
fiberglass project...its a really good alternative to a complete hardtop. Its a
project that any rigging or metal shop in town shold be able to help you with

If you are dead set on a hardtop, then I suggest that you contact someone like
the metal fabrication shop at Casa Rio Marina (Mayo/Rhode River)and have them
fabricate a sheet of cored fiberglass for you. It is a light weight "waffel"
cored material that is strong, but workable...you could then practice your
fiberglass skills by modifying it to fit your PDQ...Darian & Marie Pringle
/Tranquility (hull 18) ..West River, Md

Follow Ups:

Re: Hard Top Saga - Episode II

Posted by Jeff Morris on February 03, 19100 at 17:34:09:
In Reply to: Hard Top Saga - Episode II posted by Cindy Wallach on February 03,
19100 at 10:30:56:


Although I love our hardtop, and would advise trying to get the "real thing"
from PDQ, there is an alternative. You can make (or have fabricated) a permanent
stainless frame around the cockpit. You then stretch heavy canvas (Sunbrella,
that is) over it. Mount points for solar panels and even a mainsheet traveller
can be arranged. The result is an enclosure virtually as strong and cozy as a
hardtop. Although you can't walk on it, you could make a few hard spots for
climbing on it. An advantage over the hardtop is that the canvas is easily
removed, repaired or replaced. Also, I'd guess its a lot lighter, and much
easier to do a "presentable" job. Remember, you'll need some stainless
fabrication anyway to do the hardtop, and, unless your fiberglass friends are
really good, you're not likely to get results as light or strong as PDQ

I saw a rig like this on a Prout 39 some years back, and was much impressed ..

I've wondered why it isn't more common on sailboats. The sport fishermen seem to
do this sort of thing a lot on flybridges

-jeff

Follow Ups:

Re: Hard Top Saga - Episode II

Posted by Dale Koonce on February 03, 19100 at 13:04:22:
In Reply to: Hard Top Saga - Episode II posted by Cindy Wallach on February 03,
19100 at 10:30:56:


Hi,
We have a PDQ 32 (Mongoose Magic) that is docked across the bay bridge at Castle
Harbor Marina

If you would like to go over and take some measurements and or pictures, She is
in slip C-24

Let me know when you will be going and I will give the Marina a call to let you
in

Dale and Antha Koonce
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