T-Top or Arch - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Performance
  T-Top or Arch

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   T-Top or Arch

Smallfrye posted 08-26-2005 11:31 AM ET (US)
My last [undecipherable abbreviation of Boston Whaler boat model] had a BIG t-top that seemed to cause a significant amount of drag. I'm about to fit a new boat with radar and antennas and was considering either a traditional radar arch with bimini or something custom, like a small arch over the center console.
With the price of fuel, I would like to be as efficient as possible but still have the need to keep out of the sun.
Anyone with experience here please reply.
jeffs22outrage posted 08-26-2005 11:44 AM ET (US)
http://www.geocities.com/j_flook/
You should email Kingfish about his arch.
bsmotril posted 08-26-2005 12:56 PM ET (US)
Check out Pro-Line New Water Inc. Customworks jsut south of San Antonio. they also make the New Water Boat works line of custom flats boats. I saw an arch they fabricated for a boat in Port O'conner that had rod holders on the site, antenna mounts, cockpit lights, stern light, and a fold up buggy top that would extend aft over the console. All the bows for the top attached to the arch so that when folded up, it matched to the arch and left the deck and gunnels totally clear.
http://newwaterboatworks.com/
Did yo find another boat already?
BillS
bsmotril posted 08-26-2005 12:57 PM ET (US)
They have a separate site for their aluminum work.
http://www.prolinealum.com/
Buckda posted 08-26-2005 01:18 PM ET (US)
Smallfrye -
Hi-Tech Marine in Kemah, TX did the aluminum work on my 18 (prior to my arch) and it's held up very well, and is high-quality work. You may wish to contact them for pricing and to determine what might work best on your boat.
I am partial to arches, and I believe they have less wind resistance for mileage, however I don't think either will really impact your fuel economy. An aluminum arch will weigh about 100 pounds.
The arch may inhibit the "all around" fish-fighting feature of your center console, however I THINK they look better than T-Tops, and can be secured better through the gunwales with easy access to the through-bolts for inspection and / or maintenance if necessary.
The arch won't help you keep out of the sun like a T-Top would - you'd need to order a bimini or flying top to provide shade...
Buckda posted 08-26-2005 01:20 PM ET (US)
If you want to save money and "do it yourself" go with Atlantic Towers in New Jersey - I went with them and had a generally positive experience and they do nice work. E-mail me offline (I'm on vacation for the next week and a half - so be patient) and I'll relate some "key learnings" from my project.
Overall, I'm very happy with the end result.
Dave
Smallfrye posted 08-26-2005 03:33 PM ET (US)
Yes, I found another [undecipherable Boston Whaler boat model abbreviation] with more fuel capacity than my current boat. It only has a single outboard, so re-power to duals will come in the next year or so.
I plan to add radar to this boat, there were too many times sitting in fog wondering if I was going to be run over by our friendly, but blind, shrimp boats.
T-tops are nice for shade but really parachute in a head wind. This boat has a big bimini over the cockpit, so I 'm well covered when slow trolling or anchored. Buckda's idea of a " Flying top"is interesting. Maybe incorporating this into the arch may be the answer.
Thanks for the input, I will contact these companies for more detailed information.
Keep those cards and letters coming.
jimh posted 08-26-2005 08:57 PM ET (US)
[Please do not invent abbreviations for the model names of Boston Whaler boats. It is not necessary to post public notice of private email communication. The purpose of the discussion area is to solicit public discussion of topics. Thanks--jimh.]
kamie posted 08-28-2005 09:04 PM ET (US)
Dave,
Do you have any new pictures of the arch with the canvas? Where does it meet the gunals in relation to the forward shelter?
I like the stability of the t-top for something to hold onto but I want more sun protection. Considering replacing the t-top with an arch and adding the rest of the canvas to Evenstar.
home Aside posted 08-28-2005 10:27 PM ET (US)
Kamie,
Dave's busy making all us other BWGLCC members jealous of his trip to Isle Royal, here's a post of Dave & Gambler at the Charlevoix Owner's event in early August...
http://photobucket/com/albums/y108/mottpm/Charlevoix/?action=view¤t=p8060021.jpg
Hope it works, not a closeup but a good shot
Pat
home Aside posted 08-28-2005 10:31 PM ET (US)
kAMIE,
hhhhhhmmmmmmm, Don't know why it didn't work go to Redezvous page and look for the Charlevoix Boston Whaler Owner's Event, you'll find it among the photo's posted there
Pat
Backlash posted 08-29-2005 07:22 AM ET (US)
Here's a close up of Gambler:
http://tinyurl.com/djpje
kamie posted 08-29-2005 08:02 PM ET (US)
perfect shot.
If I am lucky the legs of the arch will fall right where the downriggers are now so I wouldn't have to cut any more holes in the gunals. The only other challenge is, where to mount the radio if I pull down the electronics box?
kamie posted 08-29-2005 11:02 PM ET (US)
Dave,
next time your out at the boat, take a measurement from the start of your teak to the rear support on the arch. Trying to see if it does land where the downriggers are located.
jeffs22outrage posted 08-30-2005 12:59 PM ET (US)
In Dave's absense
here is the page of the install
http://photobucket.com/albums/v219/Buckda/Modifications%20-%20First%20Look%20Photos/
Other Images
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/Buckda/Memorial%20Day%202005/DSCF0059.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/Buckda/Memorial%20Day%202005/DSCF0095.jpg
Buckda posted 01-13-2006 10:46 AM ET (US)
Wow..just found this post with all the questions for me.
Sorry to dredge up an old post..I'll take actual measurements this weekend. I have the specs in a file at home, too.
Dave
Buckda posted 01-14-2006 08:28 PM ET (US)
32 inches.

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: T-Top or Arch
Smallfrye	posted 08-26-2005 11:31 AM ET (US) My last [undecipherable abbreviation of Boston Whaler boat model] had a BIG t-top that seemed to cause a significant amount of drag. I'm about to fit a new boat with radar and antennas and was considering either a traditional radar arch with bimini or something custom, like a small arch over the center console. With the price of fuel, I would like to be as efficient as possible but still have the need to keep out of the sun. Anyone with experience here please reply.
jeffs22outrage	posted 08-26-2005 11:44 AM ET (US) http://www.geocities.com/j_flook/ You should email Kingfish about his arch.
bsmotril	posted 08-26-2005 12:56 PM ET (US) Check out Pro-Line New Water Inc. Customworks jsut south of San Antonio. they also make the New Water Boat works line of custom flats boats. I saw an arch they fabricated for a boat in Port O'conner that had rod holders on the site, antenna mounts, cockpit lights, stern light, and a fold up buggy top that would extend aft over the console. All the bows for the top attached to the arch so that when folded up, it matched to the arch and left the deck and gunnels totally clear. http://newwaterboatworks.com/ Did yo find another boat already? BillS
bsmotril	posted 08-26-2005 12:57 PM ET (US) They have a separate site for their aluminum work. http://www.prolinealum.com/
Buckda	posted 08-26-2005 01:18 PM ET (US) Smallfrye - Hi-Tech Marine in Kemah, TX did the aluminum work on my 18 (prior to my arch) and it's held up very well, and is high-quality work. You may wish to contact them for pricing and to determine what might work best on your boat. I am partial to arches, and I believe they have less wind resistance for mileage, however I don't think either will really impact your fuel economy. An aluminum arch will weigh about 100 pounds. The arch may inhibit the "all around" fish-fighting feature of your center console, however I THINK they look better than T-Tops, and can be secured better through the gunwales with easy access to the through-bolts for inspection and / or maintenance if necessary. The arch won't help you keep out of the sun like a T-Top would - you'd need to order a bimini or flying top to provide shade...
Buckda	posted 08-26-2005 01:20 PM ET (US) If you want to save money and "do it yourself" go with Atlantic Towers in New Jersey - I went with them and had a generally positive experience and they do nice work. E-mail me offline (I'm on vacation for the next week and a half - so be patient) and I'll relate some "key learnings" from my project. Overall, I'm very happy with the end result. Dave
Smallfrye	posted 08-26-2005 03:33 PM ET (US) Yes, I found another [undecipherable Boston Whaler boat model abbreviation] with more fuel capacity than my current boat. It only has a single outboard, so re-power to duals will come in the next year or so. I plan to add radar to this boat, there were too many times sitting in fog wondering if I was going to be run over by our friendly, but blind, shrimp boats. T-tops are nice for shade but really parachute in a head wind. This boat has a big bimini over the cockpit, so I 'm well covered when slow trolling or anchored. Buckda's idea of a " Flying top"is interesting. Maybe incorporating this into the arch may be the answer. Thanks for the input, I will contact these companies for more detailed information. Keep those cards and letters coming.
jimh	posted 08-26-2005 08:57 PM ET (US) [Please do not invent abbreviations for the model names of Boston Whaler boats. It is not necessary to post public notice of private email communication. The purpose of the discussion area is to solicit public discussion of topics. Thanks--jimh.]
kamie	posted 08-28-2005 09:04 PM ET (US) Dave, Do you have any new pictures of the arch with the canvas? Where does it meet the gunals in relation to the forward shelter? I like the stability of the t-top for something to hold onto but I want more sun protection. Considering replacing the t-top with an arch and adding the rest of the canvas to Evenstar.
home Aside	posted 08-28-2005 10:27 PM ET (US) Kamie, Dave's busy making all us other BWGLCC members jealous of his trip to Isle Royal, here's a post of Dave & Gambler at the Charlevoix Owner's event in early August... http://photobucket/com/albums/y108/mottpm/Charlevoix/?action=view¤t=p8060021.jpg Hope it works, not a closeup but a good shot Pat
home Aside	posted 08-28-2005 10:31 PM ET (US) kAMIE, hhhhhhmmmmmmm, Don't know why it didn't work go to Redezvous page and look for the Charlevoix Boston Whaler Owner's Event, you'll find it among the photo's posted there Pat
Backlash	posted 08-29-2005 07:22 AM ET (US) Here's a close up of Gambler: http://tinyurl.com/djpje
kamie	posted 08-29-2005 08:02 PM ET (US) perfect shot. If I am lucky the legs of the arch will fall right where the downriggers are now so I wouldn't have to cut any more holes in the gunals. The only other challenge is, where to mount the radio if I pull down the electronics box?
kamie	posted 08-29-2005 11:02 PM ET (US) Dave, next time your out at the boat, take a measurement from the start of your teak to the rear support on the arch. Trying to see if it does land where the downriggers are located.
jeffs22outrage	posted 08-30-2005 12:59 PM ET (US) In Dave's absense here is the page of the install http://photobucket.com/albums/v219/Buckda/Modifications%20-%20First%20Look%20Photos/ Other Images http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/Buckda/Memorial%20Day%202005/DSCF0059.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v219/Buckda/Memorial%20Day%202005/DSCF0095.jpg
Buckda	posted 01-13-2006 10:46 AM ET (US) Wow..just found this post with all the questions for me. Sorry to dredge up an old post..I'll take actual measurements this weekend. I have the specs in a file at home, too. Dave
Buckda	posted 01-14-2006 08:28 PM ET (US) 32 inches.