Topic: Glass-over-plywood hardtop, what do you think?

[disposable]

First, hello. i've been lurking this site for a couple years, finally became a member. thanks for all the good reading!

Second, i have a 2012 17'SC, with a 90hp Honda. i fish rec/comm in santa barbara, tow down to mexico a few weeks every year. i am totally in love with my arima, having put about 700hrs on it since buying 22 months ago. here's my problems: boat cover's getting really crusty and needs to be replaced, bimini is wobbly/wonky (walking around the bimini feels dangerous every time, and i do it often), i've never enjoyed the bimini-post pins (rusty) and both bimini straps have snapped (replaced with trucker's hitch on cord), my izorglass/vinyl windows are getting cloudy, plus i lost the center one (doh!), i get pretty wet on windy choppy days, carrying surfboards is currently a nightmare, i carry tons of rods but wish i could keep them overhead, my wife wants me to mount a radar for the foggy crossing of the shipping lane... soooo... i'm thinking of building a hardtop. glass-over-plywood, radon/davis/anderson style, sorta like this:



i'd appreciate your thoughts. i know it'll cost money, but i'd be spending a chunk of money on the new cover/new center window/new izorglass anyway. looked at stainless t-top, prices came out really high and i can't do that myself. i know it'll add some weight, but hopefully not that much (i'm predicting about 100-150lbs new weight, as i get a little discount by removing little window and Bimini).

[First Cabin]

Welcome to the sunshine!  I think it is a great idea, but keep it as light as possible.  Years ago while touring the Arima factory I had a conversation with Don and we discussed hardtops on smaller Arimas.  Don said that Mr. Arima would not offer it from the factory because he wasn’t comfortable with the added weight making the smaller Arimas top heavy.  I know many have added a variety of tops to all sizes of Arimas so it is done regularly but, I thought I should throw that out there for consideration.

I absolutely love the radar tower we added to our 17SC and can’t imagine not having it now.

[Wiley]

What about doing it over foam like a surfboard to save weight, with reinforcement in necessary areas

[GregE]

Message Salmon King-  he just sold his Skiff top he built.

First Cabin's set ups is nice

[Threeweight]

Do a mock up to get the lines/height you want, then take it to an aluminum fab shop and have them weld you one out of .190 or .25 aluminum plate.  Will be stronger and lighter.

Ssericz had a sweet aluminum pilothouse he built himself on his 17, before he sold it.  Unfortunately it looks like Photobucket ate all of his photos... heres one I managed to pull off Google:

[Tom Mac]

A factory skip top might be a good option, I have seen a few photos of wood hard tops on smaller Arima's. Some nice, some mud fence ugly, you a good wood worker? Aluminum might be a better option as 3wt said, less bracing needed, easy to fit windows, not going to crack mounting surf boards, easily have it powder coated to match the hull.

[Hunter]

I agree with the suggested aluminum option.   I think this link below to google images might be Ssericz's boat before he sold it.   I know that boat handled well and slayed a ton of fish and lobster.   

https://www.google.com/search?q=arima+with+aluminum+pilot+house&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjo8rK2nabXAhVG6GMKHZokCYgQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=622#imgrc=UCxjHw_g4hrfyM:&spf=1509843530331

 

[AJFishin]

 


Here's some different pictures of Ssericz's boat to give you some ideas. I copied them off of chromes hack app for photobucket.

[Markshoreline]

Ssericz’s top had excellent proportions and perfectly designed windows. A lesser design or execution would risk reducing the boat’s value.

[Tj805]

I think your current design looks good .
I would be worried about the weight as well but
There are plenty of boats in my home turf running around with home made pilot hoses .
Most people I know that have done the conversion love it . And tell me the wish they had done it years before .

[Wiley]

Someone on here posted pictures of one they built like a cedar strip canoe, it was beautiful wood underside and color matched outside. Very well built and designed, looked great too.

[Croaker Stroker]

Here's some different pictures of Ssericz's boat to give you some ideas. I copied them off of chromes hack app for photobucket.

I think he had it made here.....

[Croaker Stroker]

I’m guessing someone will want your “take-off” windows.

[PNW Drifter]

Love the anderson boats! Very similar look. You carrying the boards side ways in the back like they do?


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[OnA]

Lots you can do with plywood, and why bother glassing? ;)

[Rokefin]

Don't do it unless you construct it so it looks like it belongs!  Nothing looks worse than a look that is out of place, redneckish, or flat hashed together.... I would fiberglass it and make it look factory if you could or an easier route would be to put a skip top on it with the canvas/vinyl windows. The skip top is very sturdy to grab while maneuvering around the boat.  I would think an aluminum top may get hot in the summer months.

[Salmon King]

Lots you can do with plywood, and why bother glassing? ;)

That Lund looks overloaded to me. 
That’s a heck of a lot of weight!

[Salmon King]

Don't do it unless you construct it so it looks like it belongs!  Nothing looks worse than a look that is out of place, redneckish, or flat hashed together.... I would fiberglass it and make it look factory if you could or an easier route would be to put a skip top on it with the canvas/vinyl windows. The skip top is very sturdy to grab while maneuvering around the boat.  I would think an aluminum top may get hot in the summer months.

 

[disposable]

OK! That's the kinda response I'd hoped for, thanks! Some scattered thoughts:

Al looks intriguing and I hadn't thought of that, I'll look into it more, but kinda skeptical about the cost and heat. I also feel like screwing electronics and cables and pockets and junk onto aluminum just wouldn't feel right... Plus, I'd have to hire someone else, and I'm a diehard DIYer... but dang, that looks snazzy and simple... I'll see about that, nice idea.

Weight is a constant struggle but my estimates/experience so far don't seem too scary.

Yeah, I'd love to sell the takeoffs. I'll list if I don't die from resin fumes first.

My craftwork skill level is somewhere between drunken-child and blind-donkey, but my friends are classy, capable and crafty and always seem to stop in for a beer right before I really blow it... so I'm optimistic about style points thanks to their realiably good timing.

Yeah, I carry surfboards sideways, just in front of the outboard, but that really sucks for mixed-use trips and I dream of having them up top (with a dozen rods and all the gaffs/brushes/squid crowder...).

I'm off to Mexico for some family boating fun, will update y'all when I finally get started.

Thanks again and happy holidays

[Salmon King]

This is my SKIFF TOP I built...all glass...
The arch is Aluminum and custom made to provide support for the top.

[Ssericz]

If u want any info on mine let me know it never felt top heavy and seemed to ride better with the extra weight on the bow but I will give u the awesome fuel economy was like 3mpg no more 6-8 haha but my boat was dialed and used for commercial cbass yellowtail and tuna I had a 48g bait tank 30g fuel tank and bunch of stuff

[JHpls]

This is one great job on a custom hardtop.

[JHpls]

That's aluminum on a 17' ranger.

[Rokefin]

Now that is a great look - best I have seen yet. Aluminum painted to match is the ticket.