Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

New Forum member here, I have a party cruiser 32 that I'd like to add a hard top to in the back. Basically extending the current roof to cover the back end and using canvas to enclose the sides, much like the newer models.

Anyone done something like this? Any advice, tips, ideas on costs?

Thanks for any info!

It would be completely do-able.
You'd just need to find a good awning shop to see if they can do the top, as well as the sides.
Awning companies very often fabricate framework, etc. to hang their canvas awnings, so it should be something they can handle.

If I hadn't sold my '06 Party Cruiser, that was my plan. Not that hard to do at all. Factory, the roof on the cabin is marine plywood held up with aluminum supports, topped with rubber RV membrane. Get the aluminum structure completed and have a canvas shop make the canvas.

Thanks for the help, getting excited about this project! I want the new roof to be have the ability to hold more weight then the factory roof, hopefully I can find a good aluminum fab/weld shop who have done something like this before here in central Texas.

check out this guys thread on another forum...

http://www.pontoonboatforum.com/forum_p ... deck#79403

I have a 2007 party cruiser 32. I hard side totally enclosed the rear, eliminated the poor canvas enclosure. If you will send me your email I can tell you how it was done with pics

I have a 2007 party cruiser 32. I hard side totally enclosed the rear, eliminated the poor .
canvas enclosure. If you will send me your email I can tell you how it was done with pics
I used a material called signabond instead of wood. More expensive but it's basically two sheets of alum. With a polyethylene core that acts as insulations. One boat manuf. up north actually builds their boats side panels out of this material.

Remit questions to copwad@yahoo.com

I have a 2007 party cruiser 32. I hard side totally enclosed the rear, eliminated the poor canvas enclosure. If you will send me your email I can tell you how it was done with pics

See pic below

Thanks Copwad, I've emailed you before and you sent me some info already (thanks again by the way) I'm the guy out in Austin.

For mine, I would like to just extend the roof and enclose the sides with canvas, much like the newer party cruisers, a roof strong enough to hold a few adults . I've been to a couple weld shops and fabricators in austin so far without much luck (dragging that thing around town only to be told it's to big of a job, or not something they can do sucks!). The engineering part seems to be the rub, they will weld whatever I want but putting it together the way I want leaves me with more homework to do. Seems like an easy job to just do what Tracker did and use the same idea for what they have done for the roof over the cabin, but those I've talked to seem to think its more difficult.

I'll post updates of the project when I get it going, for now it looks like I'm going to settle for replacing the fence aluminum, and new graphics for this season.

Hi, You might want to call canvas company's in your area and a local Tracker store. They referred me to a few local welding shops that work on the boats but it was too expensive. 5k-7k depending on materials needed. Plus you then have the canvas $ to deal with. We decided to re-do the back and raise the height. We haven't had the boat out yet but it looks pretty water tight. The canvas can also be used as a bimmi top by zipping the sides and back off. When this canvas goes I think we will enclose it like you are thinking. My hubby likes to fish off the back and you have the rope ties to deal with when your on the roof. A lot of up and downs on the ladder to get the lines untangled.

Do it This way:





She's currently under re fit with third tube and DF115!!!

Ok, so amazingly while searching craigslist I found someone selling the aluminum roof framing from a party hut rebuild that he didn't need! This will make the job much easier in attaching it to the existing structure.

Now as far as the roof material goes, is there really a need to use marine grade plywood? I feel that stuff is intended for use on the decking of a pontoon since it is constantly exposed to water. The roof on the party cruiser now is sealed using the EPMD rubber roofing, if I seal it well, what are thoughts on using standard plywood to save some cash? As it stands now with the original rubber roof from the factory it stays dry, I plan on replacing the old EPMD material with all new EPMD covering the whole roof.

Thoughts? Thanks for the help!

Well since it is going to be an interior panel, you don't want to have treated wood in a cabin. The factory Party Cruiser upper deck is not treated wood. Being covered in roof membrane, it won't be an issue.

Thanks BMR.