1985 V20 Half Tower/Hardtop

[jhamz71]

I have a 1985 v20 cuddy. Thinking about either having a half tower or hardtop built for it. Wondering if anyone has pictures/price estimates. Also curious what i will lose performance wise. Running a 60 degree 175 johnson. Thanks for input.

[capt chuck]

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

[jhamz71]

any pictures?

[SkunkBoat]

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 :nice:

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.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/picture.php?albumid=34&pictureid=927

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/picture.php?albumid=34&pictureid=199

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/picture.php?albumid=34&pictureid=191

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/picture.php?albumid=34&pictureid=1054

[Striper80]

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 :nice:

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.

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/picture.php?albumid=34&pictureid=927

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/picture.php?albumid=34&pictureid=199

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/picture.php?albumid=34&pictureid=191

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/picture.php?albumid=34&pictureid=1054

Who made your top?

[step up here]

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=4863&d=1367847641

[randlemanboater]

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?

[capt chuck]

jhamz71 sent you a PM

[jhamz71]

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!

[jhamz71]

Wish you werent all the way in new jersey skunk. Id love to come see that top of yours.

[bradford]

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/

[SkunkBoat]

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?


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.

[SkunkBoat]

http://www.wellcraftv20.com/community/attachment.php?attachmentid=4863&d=1367847641:nic:


Hey StepUp, nice rig! I don't think I've seen it before. That top looks good. As I said, mine is overbuilt. Looks like you have the same problem with the window not swinging all the way?


One word though....Rodholders!

[jhamz71]

Yeah, I am actually friends with Marc over at Carolina Custom Rigging. Im going to talk to him about this sometime in the future. Just wanted to see some pictures first.

Thats what it runs skunk. 5000 rpm and 43

[000's]

here's a pic of my wife's boat

58345834

[jhamz71]

do you have any other pictures?

[SkunkBoat]

Thats what it runs skunk. 5000 rpm and 43

I'm no motorhead but seems like low rpm & speed for a 175 2 stroke on a V20:head:

and 000s, that's some serious rodholders!

[SkunkBoat]

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.

[000's]

thanks skunk need a few more but ran out of room!!!!

[DiverDux]

T-Tops Etc. in Delaware.

[captaingene]

They did a nice job on that hardtop