Seeking a used flybridge enclosure for a 76' F-30

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:49 pm

Mike, your friend took approx 70 hours for an enclosure??? seems to me thats a long time to build an enclosure, especially since he , as you mentioned is using existing hardware? wow,,
well to be honest I have never built an enclosure, but as I mentioned, I have installed convertible tops on exotic cars , most of my life, and if I spent 70 hours doing that I would be out of business in a hurry,
and at the hour rate I charge , I would still come in ALOT lower than the 4100, you mentioned, and thats not including the hardware, as you mentioned,,
sorry but again, thats alot of money

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:07 pm

Bill did you install the tops or did you make them from scratch ?

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:31 am

mostly I would install a replacement, like on a bmw, or a mercedes but on some of he others I would cut canvas
I know its not the same as boat canvas as they have to make pockets for tubing etc,
but its basically the same procedure,
Im going to give it a go on my boat, and see how it looks,,lol
actually I am looking to do a hardtop , and then enclose it, but thats the dream, who knows if it will happen, I have my sights set on a larger boat,
so I may just wait and see what happens, my buddy has a Grand Banks which I love and was actually looking at a 34 GB
the downside is ,,, is that its,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,WOOD!!!!!! ahhhhhhh nooooooooooooooo

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:38 am

this thread took a turn in a weird direction,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
sorry ,,
if all else fails I will open up a marine shop,,,,,,,, ha ha,,,,,, if it wasnt for the sea sickness at docks, I would be working on boats at marinas,,,
instead of these damn cars,,,,,,,,,,,!!!!!!!

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 2:41 pm

guglielmo6160 wrote:actually I am looking to do a hardtop , and then enclose it, but thats the dream, who knows if it will happen, I have my sights set on a larger boat,
so I may just wait and see what happens, my buddy has a Grand Banks which I love and was actually looking at a 34 GB
the downside is ,,, is that its,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,WOOD!!!!!! ahhhhhhh nooooooooooooooo

Not all GB's are wood... the later ones are glass.

One way of making a hardtop is to use Starboard and attach it to the existing SS frame. Then your side curtains hang from that. Starboard being light means the standard tubing can support the weight.
See my buddy's hardtop Trojan here the middle of the three.

LSP · Post by **LSP** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 2:58 pm

Michael .... is there anyway you can get your buddy to post a few pictures of a closer view? I'd like to have a closer look. Thanks

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 3:47 pm

LSP wrote:Michael .... is there anyway you can get your buddy to post a few pictures of a closer view? I'd like to have a closer look. Thanks

I'm not sure he has any photos but will check. Failing that I can take some late April as we are thinking about geting things ready for launch early May up here.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:08 pm

Bill I made my own hard top on my F30 . I have seen enclosures that people had made some good some fair . You may learn why they chage so much LOL but good luck .

LandVF36 · Post by **LandVF36** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 10:03 pm

Here in MN, the canvas people must be in cahoots together. I got a quote two years ago from 2 different shops. I have a newer bimini for the fly bridge and a short awning aft, all supported on 1" stainless all the stainless 1" tubing. To finish the top with side curtains, it was $3700-$4000 and another $1800 to make an aft curtain! (I've been spending $ on other projects....)

For those of you looking for a hardtop, I was just at Marine Connection in Ft Pierce FL last week. They have about 20 hardtops that seemed to be the right size for F32/F36s, stacked up against the far wall of the warehouse. I've had them ship me items before, seem to be a great company to work with. Before you try constructing your own, I'd give them a call, provide rought measurements, and see what they have. Also, they've been a great source for me in getting solid brass and chromed parts like rod holders, hinges, ect. My mom lives about 3 mi away so whenever I'm there visiting, I spend a 1/2 day browsing just to get a mental inventory.

Mitch

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 10:12 pm

Is this the toy store your talking about ?

http://www.themarineconnection.net/index.html

LandVF36 · Post by **LandVF36** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 11:32 pm

Yes it is. Facinating place. 1/3 is set up line isles in a grocery store with rows of misc boat parts. 2/3 is warehouse with all the bigger items. Inventory ranges from nuts and bolts to engines and entire hulls! I've sent them pictures of old / broken parts. 2-3 days later I get a reply with a price. I think a lot of it comes from tear down of salvaged boats but some inventory is new / overstock from FL boat-builders. Lots of Wellcraft / Scarrab, Mako, and Chris Craft parts.

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 5:31 pm

ready123 wrote:Keep in mind that quality of the materials and workmanship is also important for the longevity of the installation. Of course there will always be those who will spend less $$ over and over while still feeling happier that they have avoided that higher initial price.
I often see situations where the total of those $'s is more than the initial higher price over any longer time period... but there will always be those who only consider the per year $ spend rather than the total job spend.

Of course it still comes down to what each of us is happy with, and that is often not the same for any two people. That is what makes the world go round...

yes I understand that, all work should be done with quality. I assume when someone does a job it should always be a good job,
thats not what I was talking about. I was just comparing the dollar ammont of the labor rate,
quality parts, and workmanship, should be rewarded with a high dollar per work hour rate, so that means, that all the guys doing fabric are doing top dollar rate I guess

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 5:43 pm

Ready
thats an outstanding picture,,,
Im going to put the hardtop, /radar/enclosure project on hold till next season, if I still have my boat,
in the mean time Ill enjoy the bimini top and just live with that

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 9:30 pm

guglielmo6160 wrote:Ready
thats an outstanding picture,,,

Thanks...it's the great location that makes the photo. Looking forward to next month when i start boating again in the beautiful georgian Bay anchorages we have like that one.