T-top Mounting Hardware SF23

[Surfnski]

Hi all,

After looking at SeaCrafts and lurking here for the past 4-5 years I finally found a boat that I could afford and was worth picking up. She came with an uninstalled T-top that the previous owner picked up along the way but never installed, he stated that it was fabricated for a SF23 console. The top does fit the console nicely but I'm a little leery about just drilling holes and running screws into the deck. I pulled the bin under the CC and the aft tank hatch hoping that I could get some backing plates in there to sandwich the deck between but that's not happening due to lack of access. I guess my question here is what is the preferred mounting hardware for mounting the T-top to the deck? Are there any special toggle or mushrooming anchors I should be using to secure the top? Are there any backing blocks built into the deck around the console to allow for longer fasteners?

Here she is with the top sitting in place.

[kmoose]

It all comes down to how the top was designed. I like to see 50/50 support of tops between deck and console. If there is 4 seperate supports going to the console and 4 to the deck I would be ok with using screws on the deck and backing plates on the console. On my last CC I had and oversized Ttop and requested a 3 inch wide by .25 thick plate be welded to the deck attachements bridging them together instead of individual round feet. The 3M 5200 alone that I applied on the plate would of held the top during a huricane but I never had issue with it comming loose or pulling from the deck with just 6 good sized screws per side.

[Surfnski]

Originally Posted by kmoose

It all comes down to how the top was designed. I like to see 50/50 support of tops between deck and console. If there is 4 seperate supports going to the console and 4 to the deck I would be ok with using screws on the deck and backing plates on the console. On my last CC I had and oversized Ttop and requested a 3 inch wide by .25 thick plate be welded to the deck attachements bridging them together instead of individual round feet. The 3M 5200 alone that I applied on the plate would of held the top during a huricane but I never had issue with it comming loose or pulling from the deck with just 6 good sized screws per side.

Thanks for the quick reply. The top was designed to mount to the CC in the front above the door and both sides. It came with 3 spacers that fit between the aluminum tube and the CC, each with two mounting holes. I guess I'll make up some .25" aluminum backing plates to go in the CC and screw it to the floor and put 5200 under all of the connection points.

Thanks!

[DonV]

That should work. I would be sure to use bolts with nylock nuts whenever possible on the console mounting and because of issues you mentioned screws on the feet. 5200 is your friend on the feet.

[kmoose]

I find polishing and cleaning with acetone all surfaces that will contact the 5200 makes for the best bond. That includes the bottom of the feet where they hit the deck. Down the road someone should hate or love you for doing it right.

[Surfnski]

Thanks for the help guys. I test fitted all of my parts today and drilled all of my holes. I'll pick up some acetone on my way home today and assemble everything tomorrow.

[Old'sCool]

Be sure there are weep holes in the piping to allow water to run out. Bottom of vertical legs, rear corners of top, etc. Ice WILL break aluminum.