175 OSPREY oversized T-top install

[BMAC1988]

got a pretty good deal on a t-top on craigslist that im going to try and make fit in my osprey for some shade. the top came off a 2013 22ft seahunt boat and measures 7'06" long and 6ft wide and has 4 rod holders on the back. by my guesstimates this would give me the same shade as a bimini top but without the support frame getting in the way of fishing, which is exactly what I was looking for.

my concerns are what kind of support would you recommend for the floor for this top? I just had the rear 2/3 of the floor replaced last year so I know that it is solid. I plan to mount the legs of the top as close as possible to the console as well as put some supports from the legs of the top about half-2/3 the way up the console for added support. I REALLY do not want to have to cut holes in my brand new floor for backing plates but if you think that that is absolutely mandatory then I wonder if I could remove the center console and cut out some deckplates under it to install the backing plates then when I reinstall the console theyd be hidden form view.

heres some pics of the top for an idea.




 

[Capt. Bob]

While most will tell you to have the backing plates (and I agree) you may want to ponder this.

I've seen a T Top on this Forum (forgive me, I can't seem to find the pic at this time) that has a flat stock connecting the front and back legs. It appears it was designed that way. Point is, it has multiple mounting points that are shared by both the front and back legs. Your top doesn't appear to be constructed that way but you could either have the flat stock welded in place or just attach it to the deck and mount the legs on top. The pic would illustrate better than my description but the multiple mounting points plus your additional connections to the center console would help mitigate that moment (I love engineering speak ) and would be a stronger connection that just the legs themselves.  While it requires additional penetrations into the deck, it eliminates the deck plate access you are trying to avoid.

I'll keep searching for that pic.

Good luck.

[BMAC1988]

Thanx capt Bob. I might just do that since I'll have to get the legs modified to fit my console anyways.

[BMAC1988]

well finally got the top sitting inside the boat now. HOLY it makes it tall, it just BARELY will go in a 10ft door. luckily I shouldn't have to modify the legs too much to fit around my console, its not as tight of fit as a custom made top would be but is remarkably close. I did cut out a cross bar off the front 2 legs because it wouldve been chin height for anyone sitting in the front/livewell seat. once I get my the layout where I want it and the strips connecting the front/back legs for the floor mount and the mount for the console im going to make a new cross-support bar that goes where the current windshield grab bar is (going to remove the current grab bar from the boat). I thought the top was going to look like a Mexican sombrero on my boat but I honestly think it fits the boat perfectly and makes it look bigger, I really like it. the secondary structure around the front legs at the top are ideal for holding on in the front seat or assisting getting up.  anyway heres the pic I took.

[RickK]

It does look good Brett 

[BMAC1988]

finally got the top modified and welded up and installed in the boat yesterday. so far I couldn't be happier with the was it fits and looks. I made flat floor plates that connected the front and back legs together and drilled and countersunk 17 holes in each flat plate for the screws securing it to the floor. I used #14x1-1/2" stainless screws for the floor plates and 6 1/4-20 stainless bolts and nuts with the original plates that I cut off the support legs and used those as backing plates for inside the console.

only problem with the install I had was 2 of the holes on the port side floor plate right at the very front and up next to the console where there was 2 screws for the floor plates of the top. when I drilled them it felt like I hit metal in the floor. it did go down thru it but when I was pre-screwing the screws they hit and wrung off in those 2 holes. I have no idea what metal could be way up there and right off the side of the console. only thing I can think itd be is something that was put there when the floor was replaced.

   

[RickK]

Looks great 

[CLM65]

^^ditto^^

[BMAC1988]

Thanx guys. I'm anxious to get it out on a lake to try it out and see how stable it is with the way I have it mounted. I'm also curious as to how much top speed I lost because of it.

Oh and just an added side note, I added them up and I now have 18 rod holders. Between the 4 that were added on the back compartments, 2 angled ones out the back, 4 on the leaning post, 4 in the gunnels, and the 4 on the T-top, I think I'll have plenty of room for fishing poles. Lol

[Capt. Bob]

Oh and just an added side note, I added them up and I now have 18 rod holders. Between the 4 that were added on the back compartments, 2 angled ones out the back, 4 on the leaning post, 4 in the gunnels, and the 4 on the T-top, I think I'll have plenty of room for fishing poles. Lol

What about the poor guy fishing the casting deck? 

Maybe you could add a couple of those that mount to the bow rail.

On another note, the top looks great.

[BMAC1988]

Oh and just an added side note, I added them up and I now have 18 rod holders. Between the 4 that were added on the back compartments, 2 angled ones out the back, 4 on the leaning post, 4 in the gunnels, and the 4 on the T-top, I think I'll have plenty of room for fishing poles. Lol

What about the poor guy fishing the casting deck? 

Maybe you could add a couple of those that mount to the bow rail.

On another note, the top looks great.

Where is this mythical area on my boat? The only places to cast are off the back and sides, the "area at the front" is reserved for the girlfriend to lay out. So no rod holders needed for that area. Lol

[RickK]

Where is this mythical area on my boat? The only places to cast are off the back and sides, the "area at the front" is reserved for the girlfriend to lay out. So no rod holders needed for that area. Lol

Maybe a beer holder        

[dougals toy]

It does look good! I too am searching craigslist for one for my 196...

[BMAC1988]

Finally got out to test out the new top on the lake. Luckily the lake had a lil chop to it so I could kinda test out the stability and rigidity of it as well as the top speed of the boat now. Across the slight chop the top looked and felt very stable which was what I was worried about with the moved cross brace and only having the one set of mounts to the center console instead of the 2 the top was originally designed for. As for top speed loss I'm happy to say that I only lost about .5mph from what I can figure with the wind I was dealing with. The major shock came when I was towing the boat, where before my 4.0 ranger would pull it nicely without the top tho it def knew it was back there. Now it really struggles at highway speed and I found myself dropping to 4th gear at 55mph whereas before I could put the cruise on at 70 on interstate in 5th. This is in no doubt due to the added wind load of the top. Also I now have to be EXTREMELY careful where I go now with the boat as it is unbelievably tall. I can just barely fit it in our garage now and actually have to stand on the gunnle and push up on the garage door while somebody backs the boat in for the antenna base to clear and it still just barely does. Anyways here's a pic as I was leaving the shop for the lake. I still have some fishing stickers to out on the console to cover up the holes where the original grab bar mounted that I had to remove.

[RickK]

Definitely a BIG t-top   Seems to be the focal point on the boat now.
Did it give you the shade and functionality that you hoped for?