Hard top vs bimini

[David Davidson]

Gentlemen,
I have a dilemma. I am at the stage of rebuild to consider what to put up on the flybridge for weather protection and radar mount.
I bought the following hardtop last year from a B31 in Italy who changed to a bimini:
http://www.nauticexpo.com/prod/fantin-p ... 36659.html
Transporting it from there to me in U.K. was a nightmare (and very expensive). It is made with anodised aluminum tubing.

Here’s the dilemma: I now think it’s too big and ugly. The hard top looks huge. However, no-one locally in U.K. will weld with anodised aluminum (there’s just no market for it), so I can’t re-work this one or get another made in anodised.
I definitely want front and side screens for weather protection.
Getting one shipped from the US will be prohibitively expensive.

My options are:
Make a radar arch only in stainless, with a soft top bimini arrangement forward of it, with vertical screens to front and sides.
Make a new full hard top with frame in stainless tube (as light as possible)
Make a new full hard top with frame in aluminum (non-anodised) and spray it. What is best paint to use?

I would be grateful for your experienced input. Pros & cons.

[mike ohlstein]

Stainless is beautiful but the welds will crack, in time. This can result in anything from just being a constant annoyance to catastrophic failure at the worst possible moment.

You can treat aluminum with alodine and then paint, but the paint will peal, in time. Once that starts, there's no stoping it other than striping and reapplying.

You can polish aluminum, but it won't stay that way for long.

Like most things, what you decide to be satisfied with will be dictated by your threshold for pain regarding maintenance and expenditure.

[Yannis]

Like most things, what you decide to be satisfied with will be dictated by your threshold for pain regarding maintenance and expenditure.

Damn it !



Dave, look,

from this,




to this:



to this:





to this:



Hence, yes, you can put a radar up there.
Trim the top you bought, to your new desired dimensions, finish it all around with the help from some specialist (if you're like me), then stick it on a sturdy, easily made ss frame, and make sure EVERY year that all joints are ok.
I doubt you can get worse that the Aegean bertram weather...in which case you're invited over for an ouzo debate on the dock!!

[Tooeez]

On my 28 I have a bimini with a full enclosure (which I haven't used in years, but does provide good protection) with my radar mounted on a single post on the port side aft of the flybridge seat. The antenna sticks up just above the top, it's much cheaper than an arch, I can lay the top down if I wish, and I can drop the radar by removing a few bolts.

[Tony Meola]

David

From the pics she does not look that BAD. Another option is to leave the frame and remove the hard top and have a canvas put in place to replace it. I can tell from the pics but you should still be able to use the frame to also support your radar, you may need a slight modification but it can be done.

That might give you what you need.

[David Davidson]

That’s all good advice. Thanks all.

[Carl]

Another option is skip trying to find someone to Weld Anodized Aluminum and just locate someone that can TIG Weld Aluminum.

Anodize can be ground off and around joint areas to be welded.
Once anodize layer is removed it's plain old aluminum TIG welding.

Lots of aluminum marine welds around here are done that way. Weld then coat with clear acrylic or urethane paint for looks and protection.

[Waytooslow]

Make a new full hard top with frame in aluminum (non-anodised) and spray it. What is best paint to use?

I am a fan of Acid etching (Bonderite/alumiprep) and Alodining Aluminum and then use a two part epoxy. Not sold on the self etching primers/paints long term.