Hardtops

[Kquaine]

Hey everyone. Does anybody know if Hatteras provided a hardtop option on a 67’, ‘88, Cpmy?Has anyone added a hardtop? If yes were there any stability or other issues?I am looking at installing a hardtop but I don’t want to introduce stability issues. Any thoughts or advice?

 

[BJones]

Hey everyone. Does anybody know if Hatteras provided a hardtop option on a 67’, ‘88, Cpmy?Has anyone added a hardtop? If yes were there any stability or other issues?I am looking at installing a hardtop but I don’t want to introduce stability issues. Any thoughts or advice?

I am havinga hardtop put in a few weeks so I can't comment on stability issues but since there are so many with after market tops I can’t imagine it is a huge issue? Who is doing your top?

 

[firbanks]

I’ve seen your boat (same as my boat) with an aluminum frame and laced canvas top. Looked awesome and would help with weight. Went all the way aft to the back side of the flybridge seating (ahead of the tender storage area). That boat is here in Fort Lauderdale normally so if I see it in the next week or two I’ll snap a pic.

 

[jmooney]

I have a friend here in Miami that had a hardtop installed on his 65 ft Ocean Alexander , $96,000 . He said that was the cheapest quote . Considering the amount of material and complexity, that seems unbelievable.

 

[brettportzer]

I have watched a number of YouTube hard top builds, and there really is a lot that needs to be done to do it right.

They usually build a positive mockup of the hardtop, and then make a mold from that, and then do the finished hardtop with that mold.

And each of those things needs to be more or less finish quality to transfer through to the end product.

$100k is a lot for sure, but, also... It is involved.

 

[cww]

I've never been a big fan of these on MY's. I get the idea is nice on paper, but in reality I'm not sure they offer much benefit. You could replace the canvas on a bimini top like 5-10 times for the cost of doing a permanent hardtop, it doesn't save any money. You can't take it down to clear a bridge, this may not matter where you live, but in Florida it would be a pain. The main thing I don't like is with some rare exceptions, hardtops are usually ugly. Factory hardtops look good, but the aftermarket builders don't seem to pay all that much attention to following the lines of the boat, so they end up looking like an afterthought. Just my $0.02 nobody asked for.

 

[scottinsydney]

Marquipt made the hard top on our boat back in the 80s.

They may still have the design. Its still in excellent shape.

 

[Glory]

After 3 years of ownership of a 58 YF I added a hard top, I couldn't detect any difference.

Well, except for the kids jumping
off of it.

 

[firbanks]

I’ve seen your boat (same as my boat) with an aluminum frame and laced canvas top. Looked awesome and would help with weight. Went all the way aft to the back side of the flybridge seating (ahead of the tender storage area). That boat is here in Fort Lauderdale normally so if I see it in the next week or two I’ll snap a pic.

Pic as suggested:

 

[steve c]

In spring of 2023 I had a hardtop fabricated and installed on my 41c. It was constructed from 3 panels of 1/2" plywood wrapped and glassed and then coated with gelcoat. Divinicell or similiar product were either not available or too pricey for my project. No issues so far and the cost was much less than molded products. My TOTAL cost was $4200. The only work I did myself was helping to raise the panels to the existing frame.