T-Top for a 175 Osprey Yes? NO? Opinions please

[bmozz]

Thinking of welding up a t-top for my 1998 175. I remember seeing people in the past that they thought the boat became top heavy. If you think that is the case what type of aluminum was used (wall thickness of the pipe). Also I have a 90 johnson on the boat is that to small, would the t-top act as a sail and and the motor would struggle. Any ideas/opinions would be helpful thanks.

Still havent got pics up have to winterize boat soon so pics will come in spring.

[RickK]

90 hp is fine for the 175.
Not knowing the year of your boat, it should be pretty close to the beam of mine at 6'10". I can steer the boat just by taking one step to port or starboard so it doesn't take much to tip these little boats a little.  You certainly wouldn't want to build a full tower on the 175 - then it would become too tippy and dangerous. I don't think that a t-top would make the boat more tippy however I do think that you may get some "lift" from it if not built right. With a 90 you may get close to 40mph so the natural tendency is to build the top with that in mind - remember that you can go a whole lot faster towing the boat to the ramp.  The top must be stout for sure.

[daniel123]

I installed a Fishmaster folding t-top on my 71/72 170 (go to the Fishmaster web site and you can see that process profiled in an article I wrote for "Trailer BOATS" magazine) because I will use it in the Keys once a year and need to get under the old bridge in some places to get from the Gulf to the Ocean. Also I can fold it for towing. So far, I like it, although I did have some concerns for the tip factor. The rod holders up top really come in handy on a boat with few places to stow tackle, and the extra hand-holds the frame offers are great too. I also go the clear plastic windscreen that rolls down and Velcro's across the front supports to block wind, rain and spray. The real sea trial for the rig and the t-top come in April when I take it to Florida.  

Daniel123

[bmozz]

Thanks for the input. The boat is a 1998.

[Capt Matt]

I've ran boats in the past with t-tops and love the shade/rod storage but hate the fact you are forever banging fishing rods into the top when setting a hook or losing a fish.
If you are just looking for shade a bimini has more shade and you can take down when fishing
Just my two cents
Capt Matt

[daniel123]

Then again with the Bimini up and fighting a good fish you have to switch-off hands with the rod to get around the Bimini supports to follow it around the boat. And with the Bimini down it's folded and underfoot and in the way across the transom or across the bow...just another opinion.

You'll see my t-topped 170 in April, Matt! I really like your rebuild, btw...I read the entire tale off your website --which is still one of the best fishing guide sites I've run across. Simple, easy to navigate, chock-full of useful info and recent customer photos, updated regularly and no BS.

[c master]

I have a 170.  This would seem to be a pretty good solution:

http://www.canvasusa.com/Performance-Sh ... _info.html

Cliff

ps - sorry if it's not a 'hot' link to the site...may have to type it in...

[daniel123]

Cliff:

THAT top is very interesting! Thanks for sharing the link.

[c master]

d123  

Yeah, and these look pretty cool.   I thought about buying a "hard" bimini but this seems better for a small boat and priced reasonably.   Currently I have a full-size, high quality bimini (vinyl on canvas) on mine.  It came with the boat and provides a ton of shade (and suprisingly good protection from rain) but it's gunwale mounted so it's difficult to cast & retrieve when it's open.  Conveniently, it folds, slides back and rests across the boat just in front of the motor, so it's out of the way when retracted.  Has a nice zip cover so no problem at 70 mph on the trailer.

At the other end of the spectrum I have a friend with a 13' flats scooter.  He fishes almost every day, and when it's time for lunch, he puts up a big beach umbrella that slides into a couple of s/s half-circles on the side of his console.  Does it look a little goofy?  Yep.  Does it give him quick shade?  Yep.  Is it a cheap solution?  Yep.  Does anybody laugh when he's cleaning another limit of big trout at the bait camp?  Nope.  (By the way, his worn out Guns 'n Roses fishing t-shirt isn't starched either.  There are a lot of "poseurs" in the fishing world.  He ain't one of them.)

But my vanity just won't let me use a beach umbrella....and unlike my friend Preston, I can't really do my talking via a cooler full of fish, at least not on most days.

[Capt Matt]

At some point before the summer I'm going to get a small bimini for my boat that just covers the bow from the tower forward. They work great for rain and for the sun. Folds down on the bow when not in use.
Capt matt

[seabob4]

c master,
Your friend Preston, his last name wouldn't be Yoder, would it?

[kchaudha]

I have a 170.  This would seem to be a pretty good solution:

http://www.canvasusa.com/Performance-Sh ... _info.html

Cliff

ps - sorry if it's not a 'hot' link to the site...may have to type it in...

That looks like a great solution.  I have a bimini that came with my 175 but I don't like to use it.  It gets in the way too often so I just took it off and haven't used it at all since my first outing with the boat.  This canvas looks much better.  Great - one more thing that I "need" to spend money on now :)

[slvrlng]

Here is another solution, more along the lines of the Guns and Roses beach umbrella guy!

http://www.tuuci.com/product/21/open-fisherman

[c master]

Seabob -

Preston's last name is actually "Houston".  

Maybe I'll come up with "The Fishing Sombrero" - a 48" diameter "personal bimini".  Now where could I attach the tie-down straps?