1985 V20 Half Tower/Hardtop
- Thread starter jhamz71
- Start date
capt chuck
Member
I had a hardtop made for my V21 a few years ago by Charlie at C&C Welding, Cape May Courthouse. Excellent Work. $3000.00
SkunkBoat
God
My hardtop was $3200 12 years ago. Canvas was last year $1500.
The hardtop is really overbuilt. Top is a sandwich of 1" plastic honeycomb with glass/gelcoat top&bottom. It holds the weight of a person standing on it. I have used it as a diving platform... You could definitely get away with a lighter design.
I am 6 ft tall to give you a sense of height in the pix.
When I got it a had a 150 merc. There was no noticable change to running speed or handling. Mid 40s mph. I run a 140 4 stroke now, runs great. 36mph top. Trailering is no problem, height on old trailer was 11 ft. Got new trailer, haven't measured but didn't hit any wires...(light & antenna down)
I absolutely love the top and now the canvas makes it even more fantastic. Highly recommended
Problems encountered;
The inner support on the bow prevents the window from laying over all the way. think about that when you design.
After 11 years, it developed cracks where the curved arch meets the verticals, on both sides. I had reinforcing plates added. You can see them in the last picture.
The hardtop is really overbuilt. Top is a sandwich of 1" plastic honeycomb with glass/gelcoat top&bottom. It holds the weight of a person standing on it. I have used it as a diving platform... You could definitely get away with a lighter design.
I am 6 ft tall to give you a sense of height in the pix.
When I got it a had a 150 merc. There was no noticable change to running speed or handling. Mid 40s mph. I run a 140 4 stroke now, runs great. 36mph top. Trailering is no problem, height on old trailer was 11 ft. Got new trailer, haven't measured but didn't hit any wires...(light & antenna down)
I absolutely love the top and now the canvas makes it even more fantastic. Highly recommended
Problems encountered;
The inner support on the bow prevents the window from laying over all the way. think about that when you design.
After 11 years, it developed cracks where the curved arch meets the verticals, on both sides. I had reinforcing plates added. You can see them in the last picture.
Last edited:
Striper80
Senior Member
My hardtop was $3200 12 years ago. Canvas was last year $1500.
The hardtop is really overbuilt. Top is a sandwich of 1" plastic honeycomb with glass/gelcoat top&bottom. It holds the weight of a person standing on it. I have used it as a diving platform... You could definitely get away with a lighter design.
I am 6 ft tall to give you a sense of height in the pix.
When I got it a had a 150 merc. There was no noticable change to running speed or handling. Mid 40s mph. I run a 140 4 stroke now, runs great. 36mph top. Trailering is no problem, height on old trailer was 11 ft. Got new trailer, haven't measured but didn't hit any wires...(light & antenna down)
I absolutely love the top and now the canvas makes it even more fantastic. Highly recommended
Problems encountered;
The inner support on the bow prevents the window from laying over all the way. think about that when you design.
After 11 years, it developed cracks where the curved arch meets the verticals, on both sides. I had reinforcing plates added. You can see them in the last picture.
Who made your top?
randlemanboater
God
jhamz71...I dont have any experience with hardtops, but I have the same boat/engine combo as Skunk, but with no hardtop, I get 39-40 top end depending on which prop I have on, so looks like Skunks top slows him around 3-4 mph...maybe, depending on bottom condition and prop.
Hey Skunk, what prop are you running?
Hey Skunk, what prop are you running?
capt chuck
Member
jhamz71 sent you a PM
with my 175 and a 14 3/4x17, i run around 43 mph. Skunk, that is a really awesome looking top! I was thinking something like that or something smaller like maybe only a foot or foot and half wide. something just to put speakers, antennas, rod holders, lights etc. on. and then of course use it to sit on and drink beer or jump off of!
bradford
God
Jhamz, being that you're in Charleston, Spareparts has a friend that does custom marine welding and does really beautiful work.
http://www.carolinacustomrigging.com/
http://www.carolinacustomrigging.com/
SkunkBoat
God
It's a Suzuki 3 blade stainless 14 x 20. It has vent holes at the base of each blade. It's the original prop that the dealer fitted when he installed the motor. I run fairly heavy, with lots of rods, gear, anchors, coolers, and always 30 -55 gallons of gas. The hard top adds some weight too. At WOT, light, with motor trimmed up perfectly, she will get to 6000rpm and ~38mph. But I rarely do that. When I'm in a hurry I'll run at 5600 rmp, just shy of WOT.
Jhamz, you should be going a lot faster than 43 with a 175.
Last edited:
000's
Member
Attachments
SkunkBoat
God
I'm no motorhead but seems like low rpm & speed for a 175 2 stroke on a V20
and 000s, that's some serious rodholders!
SkunkBoat
God
jhamz,
speaking of rodholders, if you have a top made, get all the rodholders welded the way you want them right then. Adding later on is not so easy once you run wires thru the tubing.
When I had the cracks fixed I also had 2 outward facing rodholders added.
The guy warned me to pull all my wires out. (They were a bear to get in because of the multiple 90deg bends) So I connected a piece of 14gauge house wire as a means to pull them back. Sure enough, it got welded to the inside of the tube. Luckily some yanking got it loose without breaking it off.
speaking of rodholders, if you have a top made, get all the rodholders welded the way you want them right then. Adding later on is not so easy once you run wires thru the tubing.
When I had the cracks fixed I also had 2 outward facing rodholders added.
The guy warned me to pull all my wires out. (They were a bear to get in because of the multiple 90deg bends) So I connected a piece of 14gauge house wire as a means to pull them back. Sure enough, it got welded to the inside of the tube. Luckily some yanking got it loose without breaking it off.
