78 SC Hardtop Project

Jon2002 · #1 03-19-2006, 11:45 PM

Ok, here it is....we stripped off everything we could and fixed all the cracks and chips and holes and painted the topsides. New bow rail installed and the hardtop is in progress, then we get to put it all back together!! More to follow as work progresses...can't wait to "git er dunn!"

Jon2002 · #2 03-20-2006, 11:46 PM

Well, we got the boat back at her winter berth, new top and riggers. Turned out pretty good. Note two separate electronics boxes to allow access to cabin without having to duck. Hope to have curtains and new upholstery done soon. I will be installing a aux. fuel tank and will post pics if anyone is interested. Does anyone know how to make the pictures larger? Or should I just post the link to photobucket? I don't have much experience with digital pictures.

ScottM · #3 03-21-2006, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Does anyone know how to make the pictures larger?

It looks like you uploaded them to Photobucket too small. Your photos are only 160x120 pixels, they need to be more like 600x480 for a good-sized image.

warthog5 · #4 03-21-2006, 12:56 PM

Actually The good size is 640X480. You either uploaded to photoBucket or you used PhotoBucket to edit the pix's.

Here's how you fix it. use your photo software on your computer to resize the pix's on your hardrive.

Delete the pix's out of PhotoBucket. Then reupload the pix's to PhotoBucket.

Once you make the pix's small in PhotoBucket, you can Not resize them to be larger.

You should not need to add the pix's back to the forum page. The pix's on the forum page will have the same URL as they do now and will show up, but they will be the correct size.

PhotoBucket has what I call a ruff resize deal to it. 75%,50% or 25% of the original size. It can't be fine tuned to get them just right. That's why I suggest you use your photo software that came with your camera to get them to the exact size of 640X480 and then not even fool with PhotoBucket's resize deal.

Jon2002 · #5 03-21-2006, 09:35 PM

Thanks for the info on the picture size, I will give it a try. Does anyone know if and how a hardtop should be grounded?

Water Rat · #6 03-22-2006, 10:29 AM

Jon,
Yes, the pipework frame for the hardtop should be grounded.
I have a very similar set-up to yours (see Chris Downey's '78 23' Sceptre in photo gallery) and I bonded mine with #6 wire to a Dynaplate ground plate I had originally installed for a loran ground. I have my transom zinc, fuel tanks and all underwater hardware bonded to this plate as well. By the way, your top looks great - please continue posting pics of the progress.
Chris

Jon2002 · #7 03-22-2006, 11:40 PM

Well I must not be doing something right...my file size for these pics in my pictures is 1280x960 but when I upload them to photobucket they are 160x120. It's not fair to the boat to post such small pics! I will definitly run a wire from one of the top mounts to the ground plate...everything else on the boat appears to be bonded. I sure like that Water Rat...I was born in Boston. Never fished up there though. Where did you get the wiper setup from? I would like to put one on my boat. Thanks...

warthog5 · #8 03-23-2006, 12:09 AM

Resize the pix's on your hardrive to 640X480 and then upload them. The do NOT use PhotoBucket to change the size. They are at the correct size already when they are 640X480.

Your problem is that you took the pix's at a max size. When you upload a very large size pix to PhotoBucket it will automaticaly resize that pix. You have no control of it.
that's never been a problem for me because I never take pix's at such a large size.

The camera chip will hold more pix's if you reduce the size of the pix's it take's on the camera.
Also 640X480 is a good size if you seed them as attachment's in email's.

jongolds · #9 03-23-2006, 12:31 PM

Well, I hope you get it figured out, I can't wait to get a better look. A hard top is on my list for next winter and I'd love to see what you're doing.

I like the dual box idea. I saw that on a Performer that I looked at before buying the Tsunami. I thought it provide a lot of space but was very unobtrusive.

I'm still debating whether or not to put a box in at all. I don't have or plan install a lot of electronics. Probably just a VHF and GPS/FF combo. I'm hoping that the top will provide enough shade to make a flush mount feasible on the horizontal area behind the wheel and in front of the guages.

Jon2002 · #10 03-26-2006, 10:45 AM

I just can't get this to work...photobucket says they only resize pictures over 512kb but these are not that big. And my picture edit feature only leaves a corner of the original when resized to 640x480. So...if you want to go to photobucket and look at them the album name is 78Seacraft. I will be posting more pics as work continues. Got the new manifolds and risers installed yesterday and will be installing the new rub rail tomorrow and starting on the electronics. I hope the new aux. fuel tank is done soon...