1973 196 T-top Install questions

[Hockeyman70s]

Hi there. I have a 1973 196 hull and am considering buying an aluminum frame t-top. I'm wondering how to go about installing. I can imagine there will be considerable pull on the top with speed and trailering. Wondering how thick the floor in these boats is and whether there's anything underneath that you could recommend I try and mount to, it seems like just screwing into the floor might be less than optimal. Thanks!

[McAllgeyver]

My 1973 19-6 had a 3/4" plywood floor. It was in okay condition with only a few soft spots. There is a stringer system in these boats that is about 18" from the center of the boat that essentially runs from front to back. The stringers have 1/2" or 3/4" wood glassed on the top of them. I would screw the legs of the T-top into the floor through the stringers. This should be sufficient and is standard practice. I'll try to upload my drawing of the stringer system for our 1973 19-6.

[RickK]

Sean, did yours have the trough on the starboard side like in this pic?


The picture part of the image you posted doesn't look like it has the notch required for the trough to cross the starboard stringer and end under the edge of the console.

[McAllgeyver]

I'm did have the trough on the starboard side. I just didn't include it in my drawing.

[RickK]

Sean, do you think that your floor had already been replaced by the time you got the boat?
Reason I ask is the floors are usually not 3/4" - more like glass covered 1/2" or 5/8" end grain balsa and I have not heard of or seen any factory stringers with any wood on top of them - mine had bonding putty on the tops of the stringers and that is what we usually find in these boats.

[McAllgeyver]

I'll check my pictures I took along the way. The floor could very well have been replaced once but I really don't think so. The floor was definitely plywood in fair condition. The floor was glued down with what seemed to be the original bonding putty that was rock hard. As far as the wood in the stringers, the top and sides had plywood core. They were for sure original stringers.

[Hockeyman70s]

Great info, thanks guys!