Osprey T-Top frame breaking?

[81walkaround]

Anyone have any issues with their tops on their Osprey?

My 2000 250 Osprey's t-top frame cracked/broke on the front tube that is u-shaped.

I'm having it repaired, but, I'm trying to figure out what caused the damage so I can reinforce where it's needed.

Wondering if anyone else has seen this issue.

I'm wondering if it's contributing factors are the extra weight of the combined:

- hardtop
- outriggers
- radome

[seabob4]

Pic would help...

Is that the frame cross member that has the mounting pad on it that t/bolts to the console?

[seabob4]

Nope, just looked.  Is it the frame where it connects to the forward legs as in this pic?

[pete]

Had some cracking on mine that I had repaired,check out this thread...

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=7249&hilit=t+top+crack

What happens is the top twists every time it pounds over a wave and that causes it to crack.The top must be braced to prevent the twist,not pounding the boat too much will help too.
Good luck!

[81walkaround]

Pete, thats it, same place as yours.

I REALLY don't want to have to de-rig my top.. dam.. i have so many wires running through there... arrrrgghh...

VHF antenna cable
XM satellte/radio cable
GPS Antenna cable
spreader lights cables (front/rear)
12v e-box hookup cables

theyre crammed in there so tight, lol.

[81walkaround]

here's one.. ill upload some more

[81walkaround]

[81walkaround]

[81walkaround]

[pete]

I feel your pain bro,the welder told me that most of the cost of the repair is the de rig,re rig cost,you can do it your self and save quite a bit.Have a helper to lower down the hard top its too awkward by yourself.Any question,please ask.Use the oppportunity to do some upgrades,paint the inside of the top,lighting up grades,good luck!

[81walkaround]

yes, we are doing it ourselves. my friend owns his own aluminum welding/fabrication shop (he does high end yacht stuff).  

we'll be doing this at his shop.

I didnt want this to be a huge project though.  I have a bunch of family coming in this weekend and we had a trip planned.  i was hoping for just a quick fix.

what i was planning to do to reinforce the structure, was actually brace the rear of the top to the leaning post via two vertical braces, then add a horizontal brace across the two new vertical braces (basically create an "H" in the rear", and put 3 rod holders on that horizontal brace.  That would basically box in the whole t-top and prevent any kind of twisting while also adding strength in the rear.

decisions....

[81walkaround]

Pete,

Did you also remove the t-top frame itself from the boat?  or did you just remove the top from the t-top frame?

[pete]

I left it on the boat,removed the top and pulled any wiring that was in legs that needed repair.I was able to leave the feed for the e box in as it was not near any areas that needed welding.Wasn't really that bad,just an unexpected PIA.

[81walkaround]

i was just looking at your pics again.

i'm torn between adding the cross members you did across the front windshield, or boxing in the frame in the rear to the leaning post.

[pete]

on the front the welder only added the bracket bolted to the console at the bottom those 2  braces on a 45 were factory.On the side he added 2 front to back pieces,if you look clse they are shiner than the rest of the top.It is not so much the front to back movement as it is the left to right twisting of the top that you want to brace.Stand on the gunnel at the stern and move the top left to right and you will see what I mean.