Wanna see my what Santa got me this year?

[kamikaze]

Here is the before pic.....

6346

And here it the one after the elves went to town!

6347

Hard top was made by Martin Custom Structures in Gloucester VA. Crow's nest flips over backwards for easy transport. Can't say enough about happy I am with their work. They really liked seeing a old V20 getting all dressed up! You might not notice it in this picture but they we able to build the forward legs around the bow rail so the center window open and stows as it is suppose too! Nice touch!


Lots still to do....

Kamikaze

[Cam]

SWEET!!!!

:happy:

[SkunkBoat]

:clap:

[Destroyer]

Simply beautiful and AWESOME!!!!:clap:

[tsubaki]

Very nice, looks great!

[twhrider2]

Love the top...Santa did good

[inaforty]

NICE!
Do you use the pipe ladder built into the top to access the crows nest?

[kamikaze]

Yes you do!

[captpete13]

Wow! That thing totally transforms your boat into a serious fishing machine. Outstanding!

[kamikaze]

Thanks Captpete

That's my intent. I'm looking to make it a perfect pocket fisher. There is lots still to do... full enclosure (a must for cold weather fishing), dual ladder back captain chairs, radio box, dual 8ft whips, Bow pulpit with anchor. And if I can find a used radar unit cheap enough I may even go with that!

Lumber better watch out I'm coming after his title of cleanest V20 on the site!

Kamikaze

[randlemanboater]

Dang son! That is super nice.

[SkunkBoat]

Welcome to the V20 "Express" club!
Get the enclosure first. I resisted for years saying "I like the wind in my face". November stripers with an enclosure is awesome!

Just an fyi, I use a 3ft stainless vhf antenna mounted up there and I get great coverage.

I'm sure you'll be putting nav lights and a deck light up there too. Did they give you an internal cut thru from a vertical to the top horizontal pipe? Plan that out and do as much at once as possible because trying to fish another wire later is tough.

Looks great. Congrats.

[macojoe]

Very Very Nice!!

[bradford]

For some reason still cant see Kamikaze's or ANY of Ridgerunner's pics. In fact the only pic I've seen of Ridgerunner's is in his avatar, No hogfish pics, no inverted V hull NV pics, makes me sad. :sad:

Comes up at the screen where it's telling me to log in, although I'm already logged in.

Maybe Mj or Valiant , or someone could fix it?

[inaforty]

Kamikaze,
Are you going to add a second control station?

The enclosure will be great. You can usually get a nice tight fit because of the solid mounting surface of the hardtop. Most shops use an 3/8" aluminum awning track riveted into the hardtop pipe (inside) with 8.5mm keder welt attached to the binding on the enclosure.

I've only made one enclosure for a hardtop. It came out pretty good for my first attempt. Looks like you have plenty of room to add smiley zipper on the sides if you want (look for pictures of Skunk's boat). Also you might want to consider adding zipper to front panel to access the sliding hatch/bow. If you add these zippers you be less likely to remove/replace the panels when the weather gets warm. Open up the zippers and you will have a nice breeze without the hassle of removing/storing and scratching the clears. Side zippers will more then likely have to be rolled up. The front zipper could be rolled or folded up against the inside of the hardtop and attached up and out of the way using common sense fastener (the turn kind).

Sorry I just got carried away thinking of making this enclosure. My imagination runs wild. This type of project would be a hoot to complete.

[kamikaze]

inaforty:

Thanks for your suggestions, and yes, I did initially considered a second control station but had to draw the line some where! Actually the crows nest it's taller than I initially thought it would be. Not sure I would want to be under way that high up on a 20ft hull to tell you the truth!

I have a Sailrite Ultrafeed LS sewing machine and a snap press and have been doing my own upholstery for several years now. Up to this point, I have lots of cushions, a couple of 3 sided console enclosure and several mooring covers, but I am looking forward to making the full enclosure.

I intended to pretty much all you discussed (smiley zippers with roll up windows on the side curtains, metal or plastic track rails all around etc. but I am kind of torn on what color to make the enclosure. My first thought was a pacific blue to match the boot stripe but I think the size of it in a dark color like that would be visually unappealing. I am now considering going with a off white / natural as it will be less distracting. and look more like an actually cabin when viewed form a distance.

I got talked out of dual 8 foot whips the other day as no matter where they are placed on the top they will interfere with casting from the crows nest and have decided to go with dual 3-4 fts whips instead as they can be easily casted over/worked around from up in the crows nest no matter were they are mounted.

I have also been considering adding a 12Volt, 13-15 inch HDTV over the passenger seat given the interior height of the top (appx 6' 8"). HDTV marine antennas are plentiful and can be found in a smaller Omni configuration relatively inexpensively and if not watching the game I can always the local weather updates when fishing which would be nice and line of sight reception isn't a problem where the boat will be fished (Cheasepake Bay). Still working on how to mount/fold/enclose it for running but I think I can come up with something out of starboard that would fit the bill. Still flushing that idea out but it will make a good winter project anyways as with winter coming to Virginia. I'm not going to be able to get much done on fitting that needs to be done until spring anyways.

Kamikaze

[kamikaze]

Bradford

Images were posted as attachments. I had trouble getting them to display on the site using the preview function when trying to link them to drop box but here are the direct links. try clicking and seeing if you can get to them that way/

Before

https://www.dropbox.com/s/j6dl7161ol9zdcr/IMG_0077.JPG?dl=0

After

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pww55p3o4rkbn6n/IMG_0102.JPG?dl=0

Kamikaze

[bradford]

I can see them like that Kamikaze, Looks great, good looking V20 anyhow.

[bgreene]

You ride up there ? Stability issues ?

What size wave on the beam with you up there would cause a ..............flip over ?

[kamikaze]

bgreene:

No I don't intend to have anyone ride up there when underway. Although it is perfect for spotting cobia when anchored though!

As far as stability I haven't had it on the water as of yet, so I can't comment on stability when at rest but will let you know this spring.

P.S. Question You have seen my screen name "KAMIKAZE". It only has to work once! :-)

[inaforty]

Kamikaze,
I also have a Sailrite LSZ machine. It's a beast going through multiply layers. I'm probably going to be stepping up to a full industrial machine soon. Maybe a Sailrite 111. I keep getting more and more inquiries regarding repairs etc. I actually enjoy doing the work however it's time consuming to make things look good.

I think a dark navy blue would look great for your enclosure.Off set the blue with white binding and white zippers! If you decide to do a white or off white you might consider a vinyl material like Stamoid. It would make cleaning it so much easier. I would imagine a Sunbrella in a light color would be very tough to keep clean esp if you like to fish. I just did a top for my V with a tan/beige. I used black zippers and binding. I really like the way it came out.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/inaforty/Bertram/20151220_125514_zpsznlvjusc.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/inaforty/media/Bertram/20151220_125514_zpsznlvjusc.jpg.html)
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/inaforty/Bertram/20151220_125555_zpstr3vkook.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/inaforty/media/Bertram/20151220_125555_zpstr3vkook.jpg.html)



Got fancy and made zipper blind to keep out water spray.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/inaforty/Bertram/20160111_144941_zpsxgj8ppiu.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/inaforty/media/Bertram/20160111_144941_zpsxgj8ppiu.jpg.html)

Used this old binding I had laying around for the edges.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d41/inaforty/Bertram/20160110_151815_zpsjqxykayb.jpg (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/inaforty/media/Bertram/20160110_151815_zpsjqxykayb.jpg.html)


We use Naxa tv's on our Bertram. They are 12 volt with built in DVD players. The reception is pretty good with one of those paper thin stick on antenna's.
We've had good luck with them. I would imagine you could use a foldable mount that would secure it to the hardtop out of the way when running.
Link below....this tv doesn't have the dvd player

http://www.amazon.com/Electronics-NT-1307-13-3-Inch-Digital-Player/dp/B00DU2ENUI

[kamikaze]

Inaforty

That's some nice work! What gauge clear vinyl were you using? I have had good luck using the 40 gauge clear rolled vinyl from rochfordsupply.com and it holds up quite well over time.


http://www.rochfordsupply.com/shop/Textiles/Clear_Vinyl/Clear_Vinyl/index.html


I agree with your concerns on using white sunbrella and I will look into Stamoid. Thanks. Iwas actually looking at the Naxa tv you listed. Good to know your happy with it. How the picture look?


Kamikaze

[phatdaddy]

wow, you guys have some skills, i can't sew a button on. i like the zippers on the bimini bows.

i've got a bimini w/ front windshield and side curtains, best thing i ever bought for the boat. they need to be redone after 20 years.

[inaforty]

Kamikaze,
The stuff I used on the V is rolled 30 gauge. I like the rolled stuff for the V or a 20 to 26 boat. I also like the pressed stuff like Crystal Clear. I have used the press stuff for projects on larger boats. I need to do 3 panels on the Bertram this winter. I will use either 30 or 40 gauge crystal clear.

The Naxa is ok. The reviews for Naxa said it wasn't very good if viewed from an angle but that's not really a problem even on our Bertram. I think for a 12 volt TV it's not a bad unit. It is great when we are on a mooring/anchor not having to run the gen set to watch TV either in the evening or in the am while having coffee.
Karen did the research on the Naxa. She said that the truckers are big fans of the Naxa for holding up for on the road use.

[inaforty]

Phat,
The sewing and patterning is all practice and getting to know the tricks of the trade. I'm a long way from perfect but getting better with each project. I tried putting zippers on the bimini bows on a whim. The 23' Wellcraft top needed some repair so I gave it a try. It's just easier to remove the top to clean it or make repairs. I keep the 23' Wellcraft on a mooring with a whirlybird that sometimes rubs against the canvas top.
Maybe I will find that I did something wrong but so far I don't see any ill affects of installing the zippers.

You are in FL so your top was made from quality material to last 20 years in FL sun. I use V92 debond thread around here but I would have to switch to a goretex type thread if (when) I move south. That thread is close to $100 for a pound!

[SkunkBoat]

I have sat on my top to spy mahi when trolling past pot markers. I think you'll be good standing up there on the troll as long as its flat and there are no big wakes...
I have done cannon balls jumping off the top:party:

Definitely put in some BIG zipper smiley windows on the side and I suggest a zipper windshield panel at the windshield door rather than a smiley.
My three sides stay on all the time and I don't have a rear enclosure.
When I bought the boat it had a bimini full enclosure. I couldn't stand it in the summer. The rear piece stayed like new in the dock box until the bimini was crap, then it all got thrown out.

[phatdaddy]

The guy that built mine in 94 is still in business,he's on his 3rd wife, but that's another story. I still go by his shop with other little projects. He says he can't believe my top is still holding up . He says 7-10 years is average in Florida . I hardly ever take mine down, only when trailering out of town. I also store the boat under cover. I just put the curtains up and will leave them up until around Memorial Day . The top leaks through, so every year I spray a can of scotchguard on it to slow it down.

One day , hoping to join the hard top crew...

[macojoe]

I have a top for ya!!!!

[SkunkBoat]

That grill is awesome!!!!:love:

[Destroyer]

Hey Inaforty. Saw this on Cl and instantly though of you. Don't know if this is a good deal or not, as I know nothing about these machines, but thought you might be interested.

https://longisland.craigslist.org/art/5343437999.html

[inaforty]

Destroyer,
That's not a bad deal. I new LS-1 is about $850 with case etc.
The Sailrite machine hold their value. I honestly think the ultrafeed machines will do just about anything you could ever want to do regarding marine projects. However the space under the arm gets really tight on bigger projects.

Kamikaze,
I hope you post more pictures when you get your V tricked out and finished.