Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I have just bought a used pontoon and put it in the lake on Saturday. The hardtop ( which sits on top of the rail, not the best place to sit ) is wobbly. I have all of the top and bottom bolts tight but that doesn't help, any ideas of how to fix it, what am I missing?
Thanks guys, you are the best.

Wade

Pictures will help us , help you, you might be missing some cross bracing

Does it lay down on the rails with the legs hinging forward?

We had a Sundancer pontoon with the hardtop, and yes, it rocked side to side. It needs a couple of diagonal braces to reduce the sway. The use of bungee cords or aluminum legs should help.

I have a 1985 Starcraft with a hard top and it' goes all the way to the deck. It also bolts into the fencing. And it still wobbles a little in big waves.

It's just the nature of a hardtop. They'll wobble worse when on top of the fencing.

Yes it is a Sundance that folds down foward and sits on top of the rails.
Where would be a good place to attach the bunge cords?

Thanks,
Wade

Ours was an '88 model and had a "ladder-style" roof support. We added a bungee to the two back roof supports up to the center of the hardtop. It cut into to sunpad access, but better that than the front. After a year or two, we just got removed the hardtop as even the bungee cords reduced the sway, but didn't eliminate it. We had just too many large waves to contend with. I had considered making up a removable set of braces, but we sold the boat before I got around to making the modifications.