FISHMASTER Folding T-Top: First-hand Experience Wanted

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46er
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FISHMASTER Folding T-Top: First-hand Experience Wanted

Postby 46er » Thu Feb 06, 2020 11:14 pm

What is the:
  • build quality
  • long term performance (such as connections loosening)
  • support, and
  • your person experience
with a folding T-Top offered by Fishmaster? Thanks.

biggiefl
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Re: FISHMASTER Folding T-Top: First-hand Experience Wanted

Postby biggiefl » Fri Feb 07, 2020 10:39 am

Too small and too expensive.
On my 24th Whaler. Currently in the stable: 86 18' Outrage, 81 13' Sport(original owner), 87 11' Sport, 69 Squall(for sale cheap).

46er
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Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2019 2:16 pm
Location: Coastal NJ

Re: FISHMASTER Folding T-Top: First-hand Experience Wanted

Postby 46er » Fri Feb 07, 2020 11:00 pm

biggiefl wrote:Too small and too expensive.


Looks just about perfect to me, but to each their own. Any first hand experience? BW wants $6800 for one and it does not fold.

https://fishmaster.com/pub/media/catalog/product/cache/8e09ea998ad5a3e936dc4688e06e0aee/p/r/pro-series-ttop-anodized_1.jpg

Jefecinco
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Re: FISHMASTER Folding T-Top: First-hand Experience Wanted

Postby Jefecinco » Sat Feb 08, 2020 9:27 am

You would probably be better off buying a T-Top custom fabricated for your boat by a local fabricator. The primary purpose of a T-Top is to provide shade so larger is better given that we boat under all angles of the sun. A custom made T-Top offers the advantage of being made to fit all your needs and wants. PFD storage, extra rod holders, electronics mounting surfaces and finishes can be made to your exacting specifications at little extra cost.

A folding T-Top will require much more maintenance than would a one-piece welded top. I expect that over time a folding top would be noisy and folding/unfolding would become tiresome.
Butch

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Phil T
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Re: FISHMASTER Folding T-Top: First-hand Experience Wanted

Postby Phil T » Sat Feb 08, 2020 10:39 am

Quality t-tops are very expensive.

Knowing that a custom t-top will run $2,500 to more than $3,500 without options, the Fishmaster is a decent economy model. There have been a dozen or so Boston Whaler boat owners who have installed one and are pleased with the installation. Most negatives are comments on lack of specific features and installation trade-offs.

Before going any further, what model and model year boat is the T-Top for?

Some models will not accommodate a T-Top. The model will be important in T-Top selection.
1992 Outrage 17
2019 E-TEC 90
2018 LoadRite 18280096VT
Member since 2003

46er
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Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2019 2:16 pm
Location: Coastal NJ

Re: FISHMASTER Folding T-Top: First-hand Experience Wanted

Postby 46er » Sat Feb 08, 2020 11:45 am

PHIL—thanks.

[The FISHMASTERS T-Top] would be installed on a 2004 190 Nantucket

Fishmasters site has some pictures on Nantuckets.

The wood locating diagram for the190 Nantucket is the same as a 2009 Outrage 19. The diagram has not changed since 2003 except for the page border, a name change.

I am interested in Fishmasters’s upgraded model. I will do some searches on this site for other owner's experiences.

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Phil T
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Re: FISHMASTER Folding T-Top: First-hand Experience Wanted

Postby Phil T » Sat Feb 08, 2020 1:35 pm

You are correct on the history on the 190 Nantucket-Outrage.

Consider removing the existing console rail to get the legs as close a possible to the console.
1992 Outrage 17
2019 E-TEC 90
2018 LoadRite 18280096VT
Member since 2003

ollie366
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Re: FISHMASTER Folding T-Top: First-hand Experience Wanted

Postby ollie366 » Sun Feb 09, 2020 5:32 pm

Ship Shape TV has done a few segments on the Fishmaster T top. While the show is an infomercial the segments do provide some good info on installation and operation. Check the Ship Shape web site if interested.

46er
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Re: FISHMASTER Folding T-Top: First-hand Experience Wanted

Postby 46er » Sun Feb 09, 2020 10:42 pm

I saw the episode for the installation on a Nantucket. That show used to be on a cable channel here, but disappeared some time ago.