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Double TOPS

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 12:49 am
by LittleRiver
Called tracker they said they did not offer a double top in my year boat any more. Who needs them anyway. :prayer :happy
Took the measurements, did a little Carolina Figuring,, :thumbsup ,, got on the phone with a couple of companies, found square tubing that had adjustable tubes. HOT DOG. That was all I needed. Go over lapped. :thumbsup

You know how you start something then it just ain't quite as perfect as you want it . :lol:

Got the front top on, back top color didn't quite match, you know the rest of that story. Have right in a grand in ordering the front and having the back top built new.
Shop screwed their first try right bad, had to end up taking them the pontoon finially got it back last week. Ya I know, its cold weather now. Sounds like a remake of doing all the custom work to it last year then it turned cold. :(

Shes ready for next year though. Fun, sun, some sun, just depends on how the mode strikes me.
If any of you are interested, just get tubes that adjust. You can move the top up or down, drop one side or bring one side up so it fits perfect over lapping the other top about 5 inches.

Wish they still offered the two tops that connect, but I bet I would not of got it for $550 shipped.. :thumbsup

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Tucked away ready for winter. Didn't have time to drop the tops last week, throw on the cover, can't wait till spring. :)

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Re: Double TOPS

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:58 am
by Cowracer
I did the same thing. Best money I have spent on the boat. I had to get a bit creative because my rear legs of the front top would have set down right on the side gate. This was my solution:

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It's unreal how much more comfortable the boat is with the second top.

Tim

Re: Double TOPS

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:22 pm
by smltooner
Both look like great ideas.

Re: Double TOPS

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 5:55 pm
by LittleRiver
Cowracer wrote:I did the same thing. Best money I have spent on the boat. I had to get a bit creative because my rear legs of the front top would have set down right on the side gate. This was my solution:

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It's unreal how much more comfortable the boat is with the second top.

Tim
Ya,, you can sun when you want, go undercover when you don't. Looked like the way to go..

Got lucky on mine. Had to drill a couple of holes where they won't any on the adjustments but other than that, she fit right on, and bolted right up. Getting someone to help hold it steady was about the hardest part.

Thanks for posting Cowracer. Glad to see i'm not alone. :thumbsup

Re: Double TOPS

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 8:19 pm
by PlaynDoc
mine is set up same way

Re: Double TOPS

Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2015 8:32 pm
by Dragon1
I am also planning to add the 2nd bimini. Great options above to elilminate the gate issue.

May I ask what bimini supplier you used ?

My other issue is to try to match /get close to the burgundy on my original bimini- yup ST 's supplier (Dowco) has discontinued that color. My orig bimini still vg condition.

Thanks

Re: Double TOPS

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 6:44 am
by LittleRiver
Dragon1 wrote:I am also planning to add the 2nd bimini. Great options above to elilminate the gate issue.

May I ask what bimini supplier you used ?

My other issue is to try to match /get close to the burgundy on my original bimini- yup ST 's supplier (Dowco) has discontinued that color. My orig bimini still vg condition.

Thanks
I made a boo boo which led me to getting involved in both projects. I"m one mile from the boat ramp. Shed was for the Fountain offshore I sold so its high enough to leave the cover up. I usually run about 40 to 45 to the landing with the top on but passed a tractor mashed it and the guy I had bought the boat from had left the top up out in the sun for 5 years. You know what happened to the back top. :roll: :roll:

Ordered the front pacific blue then had the local tarp guy try and built one out of the old tarp. He said he could. Man did he make a mess out of that thing would not even fit. Had to take him the pontoon and let him start all over. Don't even do that. Take it to who ever is building your top, let them fit it to the rails.
Agree totally two different colors, or shades ain't going to look uniform but they sure will work.

ON the ordering, I hate to say it but don't have a clue. Found them on e bay, its 1.25" square tubing called them and ordered direct and yes they give you a discount. They had good feedback so felt I was ok. . Been about two months maybe a little more so you know where that box and the rest are. :happy

I would try and get the 1.25 square tubing. ITs a lot stronger and not sure adjustments come in round tubing and thats what I had on the back.
Once I seen it worked and everything was good, for what I spent on it , I can't complain so don't even worry about sending something back.

Re: Double TOPS

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 7:07 am
by zoom650
It's worth all the trouble to set up. Hard to beat a double bimini when the sun is bearing down!

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Re: Double TOPS

Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2015 7:59 am
by Cowracer
Dragon1 wrote:I am also planning to add the 2nd bimini. Great options above to elilminate the gate issue.

May I ask what bimini supplier you used ?

My other issue is to try to match /get close to the burgundy on my original bimini- yup ST 's supplier (Dowco) has discontinued that color. My orig bimini still vg condition.

Thanks

I got mine from PontoonStuff.com. The front top is new. The rear is factory Bennington. The color of the new top is close enough as makes no difference, but it not quite as opaque. It lets in noticeably more light. Not really an issue. Installation was a breeze, provided you have a helper or two (two is better). The only two drawbacks to my setup is:

#1 that I HAVE to run both tops up, or both tops down. I can't run just one top up, because I need both for support. But that is not a big deal for me. It takes literally just seconds to deploy,

and #2 despite warning everyone else to watch their heads, I personally have brained myself on the cross bar twice now getting on or off the boat at the dock. D'Oh!

Tim