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Author Topic:   Flying top question

rsgwynn1 posted 06-17-2002 08:24 PM ET (US)
My Mills flying top for the 22 Revenge Cuddy arrived today and is installed. I can see that it'll be a great thing in the Gulf sun, but it will also limit my fish-fighting space. A question: I know I shouldn't trailer with the top up, but how does having it up affect the boat's performance? Should I only put it up when I reach my destination? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I've never had a boat with a Bimini before.
kingfish posted 06-17-2002 09:15 PM ET (US)
rsgwynn-
I've had my sun top up in my Outrage 22' at 50 mph, and all various aspects of my weather set (forward shelter, flying top windshield, etc.) up in the high forties. The only thing I would say about the flying top is that I am able to tie it right down tight, between the windshield grab bar tie downs in the front, and attachments I have made to my arch in the rear. I'm not sure just how tight the flying top would be at speed with only the ability to tie it down with straps to the gunwales in the rear. I think others here have that set up and could answer that for you.
Enjoy your Mills canvas - for my money it is the best out there.
kingfish
rsgwynn1 posted 06-18-2002 12:06 AM ET (US)
Thanks, kingfish. I was a bit confused by those two tie-downs coming from the middle of the top, but I finally figured out they were supposed to hook onto the front on an Outrage console rail. Like you, I'm really impressed by the quality of the Mills product.
litnin posted 06-18-2002 06:05 AM ET (US)
Yes, the Mills top on my Montauk also has the two eye hooks mounted on the inside top of the frame. Mine came with no other straps other than the four riveted on straps. What kind of straps are required for this and where are they supposed to attach to?
kingfish posted 06-18-2002 07:51 AM ET (US)
litnin-
I am not familiar with the Montauk flying top so I don't know if it is set up the same as those for Outrages or not. And I'm not sure whether you have a flying top or a suntop (with which I *am* familiar).
On an Outrage, the flying top (which is considerably smaller than the sun top) normally comes with two straps attached to the main bow, one on each side, just below the canvas that are intended to anchor to the gunwales and act to put rearward tension on the top. There are also two nylon ropes with adjusting plates attached to the forward secondary bow on each side just below the canvas that are intended to anchor to the top of the windshield grab rail; they provide forward tension and anti-sway tension. The flying top is really not completely supported and tensioned until the forward shelter and windshield are up and inm place.
The sun top for a Montauk (considerably larger than the flying top) has straps at all four corners, two that go forward to each gunwale and two that go aft to each gunwale. I don't recall if the Montauk sun top has sway lines that attach to the grabrail or not.
kingfish

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Author	Topic: Flying top question
rsgwynn1	posted 06-17-2002 08:24 PM ET (US) My Mills flying top for the 22 Revenge Cuddy arrived today and is installed. I can see that it'll be a great thing in the Gulf sun, but it will also limit my fish-fighting space. A question: I know I shouldn't trailer with the top up, but how does having it up affect the boat's performance? Should I only put it up when I reach my destination? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I've never had a boat with a Bimini before.
kingfish	posted 06-17-2002 09:15 PM ET (US) rsgwynn- I've had my sun top up in my Outrage 22' at 50 mph, and all various aspects of my weather set (forward shelter, flying top windshield, etc.) up in the high forties. The only thing I would say about the flying top is that I am able to tie it right down tight, between the windshield grab bar tie downs in the front, and attachments I have made to my arch in the rear. I'm not sure just how tight the flying top would be at speed with only the ability to tie it down with straps to the gunwales in the rear. I think others here have that set up and could answer that for you. Enjoy your Mills canvas - for my money it is the best out there. kingfish
rsgwynn1	posted 06-18-2002 12:06 AM ET (US) Thanks, kingfish. I was a bit confused by those two tie-downs coming from the middle of the top, but I finally figured out they were supposed to hook onto the front on an Outrage console rail. Like you, I'm really impressed by the quality of the Mills product.
litnin	posted 06-18-2002 06:05 AM ET (US) Yes, the Mills top on my Montauk also has the two eye hooks mounted on the inside top of the frame. Mine came with no other straps other than the four riveted on straps. What kind of straps are required for this and where are they supposed to attach to?
kingfish	posted 06-18-2002 07:51 AM ET (US) litnin- I am not familiar with the Montauk flying top so I don't know if it is set up the same as those for Outrages or not. And I'm not sure whether you have a flying top or a suntop (with which I am familiar). On an Outrage, the flying top (which is considerably smaller than the sun top) normally comes with two straps attached to the main bow, one on each side, just below the canvas that are intended to anchor to the gunwales and act to put rearward tension on the top. There are also two nylon ropes with adjusting plates attached to the forward secondary bow on each side just below the canvas that are intended to anchor to the top of the windshield grab rail; they provide forward tension and anti-sway tension. The flying top is really not completely supported and tensioned until the forward shelter and windshield are up and inm place. The sun top for a Montauk (considerably larger than the flying top) has straps at all four corners, two that go forward to each gunwale and two that go aft to each gunwale. I don't recall if the Montauk sun top has sway lines that attach to the grabrail or not. kingfish