A T-top seems like a simple part of the boat, but it can also be the source of nautical nightmares. Case in point: one boat I owned had a top that broke welds on virtually every trip, until a professional welder more or less re-built it. So, how can you judge the quality of a top prior to purchase? Use these tips:
1. Look for smooth, bubble-free welds. Visible bubbles in the welds can indicate weak spots, which will be prone to cracking. Leafed welds which smoothly overlap with bubble-free beauty are considered the best of the best.
2. Look for bracing in the center of the structure; usually, it’s in a V or U shape. Some builders feel it interferes with a boat’s good looks, so they eliminate it... and usually, side-to-side sway is visible as a result. Run through rough seas, and you’ll break welds or rip bolts out of the deck.
3. Count the attachment points. More is always better, and while four feet would seem to be enough, it isn’t. Usually an additional two or more attaching to the console are a minimum.
4. All attachment points must (MUST!) be through-bolted, not screwed, and backed with pre-tapped steel, aluminum or polyboard backing plates laminated into the fiberglass. All nuts must be the nylock self-locking aircraft style and all stainless must be 316-grade. Note: screws are guaranteed to back out due to vibration, and as they do so the threads wear the fiberglass. Eventually, they’ll just rip out and re-tightening will become impossible.
5. Check for solid mounting points (usually aluminum plates welded between bracing,) provided for antennae and outrigger mounts.
6. Be sure the pipework has dedicated wiring channels built in. They must be wide enough to accept the plug ends of common electronics, so riggers don’t need to cut and re-attach the plugs to the wires. Also, they should have pre-fished pilot strings already in place. If there are any 90-degree bends in the run consider them useless; wires are sure to bind up when you try to get ‘em through.
7. When looking at a top, use it like a jungle gym—do some chin-ups, yank it from side to side, and swing from the edges. Movement is bad, and side-to-side sway is really bad. If the back is springy, be aware that the rocket launchers may launch your rods overboard.
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| Note the multiple deck cracks, caused by insufficient anchoring - this top was screwed down, not through-bolted. |
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