Hard Top Plans

[ChampionShip]

Thinking about building a hart top for my final project for this semester's Marine Composites Class. We're building from a mold (required) but I need input on what others have done in the way of fiberglass. Which glass did you use? I will be using balsa for a core. Any other tips would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

[pelican]

Originally Posted by ChampionShip

Thinking about building a hart top for my final project for this semester's Marine Composites Class. We're building from a mold (required) but I need input on what others have done in the way of fiberglass. Which glass did you use? I will be using balsa for a core. Any other tips would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

if i was making a hard top - i wouldn't use a balsa core,or any wood core - due to the fact,there's gonna be holes made in the top - lights,antennas,etc - holes and wood do not play well together...

when you state "hard top",just the skin ? "skin" meaning the top,not the framing ?

[ChampionShip]

What kind of core would you use? We can use honeycomb, foam or balsa. Could just skin a piece of marine sheet i suppose?

[strick]

Corecell works great for a hard top. I built this one several years ago. Click on the link and there are a few pic's of the build.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/Hardtop/index.htm

strick

[ChampionShip]

What kind of glass did you use and how was the compressive strength of the coracell? It's gotta hold antenna masts and a radar eventually

[csurf]

Really nice work Strick!

[saugeye]

Give Champs some good advice please. He is building it for my boat, the former Entourage, 73 tsunami.

[pelican]

Originally Posted by ChampionShip

What kind of glass did you use and how was the compressive strength of the coracell? It's gotta hold antenna masts and a radar eventually

composites,should be thru bolted and "sleeved"...

a "skin",you can make just a skin - provided there's antenna plates on the framing

use the mold,wax it,coat it out in gel,and lay up some matting - 1.5chop strand,2 layers of 1708,and another layer on 1.5 chop strand...gel coat the exposed side -done...


the mold you've got - angled radar mount made into it ?

if it were me,i would use a foam composite - no way on wood coring for a hard top...

[Entourage]

Can't wait to see this one. I used a foam core on mine it is very light and strong. Was made in a mold though (chop gun etc.)

[77SceptreOB]

Originally Posted by pelican

if it were me,i would use a foam composite - no way on wood coring for a hard top...

I agree there, wood will rot and is too heavy way up in the air like that.