Hey Brad, just out of curiosity, what's all that extra topside steel going to do to the handling of the boat? Is it going to effect anything? :head:

I'm starting to think I'll keep the windsheild. I'm 90% of the time standing up while underway and usually hold to the top of the windsheild to steady myself with one hand. I don't like the idea of the esignglass enclosure, and I know the first bucket of spray that hits the wifey in the face will get me "that look", LOL!

Hey Brad, just out of curiosity, what's all that extra topside steel going to do to the handling of the boat? Is it going to effect anything? :head:

I'm trying to decide between a canvas top "half tower" or a hardtop. A hardtop can have a light weight non cored top or a much heavier cored top. The advantage of a cored top is mounting lights, antennaes, etc. is easier. I'm leaning towards a canvas top to save on weight and cost and planning on having an antennae mounting rail on top. I'd also like to mount my nav lights on the top so that will have to be considered. I'm told that a canvas top with aluminum structure shouldn't weigh more than 100-150 lbs.

Depends on how many rod holders etc you put on it, you can mount your lights antennas etc if you use starboard for a top, usually takes two pieces with a piece of aluminum molding on top over the seam. used to make hardtops/t-tops and canvas work. if you go canvas top i recommend seamark basically vinyl backed suunbrella. the alminum frame depending how much extra you mount is gonna weigh anywhere from 100 to about 200. can also mount your outriggers through a hardtop or starboard. wouldnt recomend doing it through a canvas top though. you having the top made, making it yourself or ordering a premade one?

Darn it! I was looking forward to watching the progress of the combing project.:bat:

Bradford, any progress or updates?

Went and saw her today. Things have taken a bit longer to finish due to the dismal business climate/economy, especially with the marine industry. Jerry Adams is coming through with some top notch work though. He spent nearly 16 hours hand sanding some problem areas around the rear storage compartments and the cuddy companionway. She has been primered and is naked, no more stripes or hardware to speak of. The cap and gunnels should be getting paint the end of this week, then the cuddy, then the deck, then the hullsides, and finally the hull bottom. I decided to go with awl-grip oyster white due to it being the closest match to the white on my engine. All new hatch covers have been built for all openings in the deck and cuddy. All will be hinged to swing open to the port side. Still gonna have a custom pulpit built.

Talked to Clay Boykin about the top and decided to go with a black Sunbrella soft top instead of the hard top. He says the canvas top will alllow us to pretty much do whatever we want as far as design goes and is more economical. Clay will also cut the bow rail and weld in a piece of stainless to radius around the pulpit with a couple additional forward stantions.

Looking forward to her being finished, it's sucked being without her all summer.

Sounds good Bradford. You are gonna have one sexy machine when done. Destroyer here is a dually with tower and 3 dudes. Looks like it is sitting ok in the water. Of course, don't know what it is made of and while it looks a bit odd, I'm sure it is a very functional Cobia killer.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_4O5KU4P9KXM/TA...uallytower.jpg