Association Forum - Semi-permanent pop top lift...

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Semi-permanent pop top lift...

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

Member Avatar

3072 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/07/2003 : 22:44:12

I was wondering if anyone out there has 'permanently' raised their pop top by removing the parallelogram lift tubes and installing a 4" (or so) piece of trim all the way around between the coachroof and the pop top itself.

If done properly, it might look really nice and would improve cabin headroom to the coveted 6' mark.

After thinking about this, I'm somewhat surprised that some mfg didn't come out with this as a retrofit kit. Should be fairly simple to make and easy to install. If done properly, easy to remove too.

Hmmm... must ponder further.

WOTAM - '77 Catalina 25 SK/SR Sail Number 158

Edited by - on

Rollins
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 11/07/2003 : 23:31:11

Bruce:

I've wondered about this myself. I am 6'1, and with the pop-top up, the C25 has (according to the specs) 6'6" headroom. Makes you wonder if you might fashion some lumber with plexiglass windows, then tongue and groove the front corners. You could insert the boards and let the pop-top down on the trim boards. Then use some extensions on teh hold down bolts. You could probably even install the pneumatic lift kits in CD to help raise the top with the support braces removed.

I realize you probably would not want to sail with this installed; but when anchored out, or at the marina, it would be nice. And if one could make it with three (or four) connecting pieces of wood, you could store them in the cabin when not in use. On bigger boats, don't they call that a 'deck-salon' or something along those lines?

Let us know when you figure it out.

Mike

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2003 : 10:27:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ClamBeach
 I was wondering if anyone out there has 'permanently' raised their pop top by removing the parallelogram lift tubes and installing a 4" (or so) piece of trim all the way around between the coachroof and the pop top itself.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Would that make it a pilot house? Do it.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2003 : 22:02:54

Somebody here used foam "noodle" swim toys from Walmart, I think, to hold the top up a little. Not a bad idea for a nice day when you want a some ventilation, and it might even be reasonable to sail that way.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2003 : 22:52:52

I installed the power-lift kit from Catalina Direct the other day. They were emphatic that all pop-tops should have four dogs. Mine only has two. They seemed concerned that a boat would pop it's top in a knockdown. How many people have four? Did you add your own?

Would the structural foam that has been mentioned on this site work to make the solid walls that Clam wants to build? It would be easy to carve the needed grooves.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

3072 Posts

Response Posted - 11/08/2003 : 23:29:02

I think it would make a nice little 'pilothouse'. Maybe some square stainless or marine aluminum tubing for the framing... it would be pretty easy to roll the corners. Use smoked lexan or plexiglass for the sides & front with wood trim in between?

Have to take care that it wouldn't come out looking like a 26X though.

Edited by - on

Bill Holcomb
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
769 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2003 : 12:08:23

The February 1991 issue of the Mainsheet magazine has an interesting article from a C25 owner, Gus Behling. He made up a four nesting 3/4" plywood pieces into two "poptop props" that will hold up the poptop about 5 or 6 inches. Since I was the Association Editor at the time, I also included the article in Volume II or the Catalina 25 Technical Manual.

It may be tough to find a copy of the Mainsheet, but as far as I know, both Volume II and the original Volume I Technical Manual are still available from the Association. These manuals are not the same as the Catalina Direct manual, and have allot of neat info regarding modifications, maintenance, etc. But, I don't remember anyone mentioning them lately.

Bill Holcomb - C25 Snickerdoodle #4839

BTW: If anyone decided to make their poptop C25 into a pilot house version, please bear in mind a couple of things: Safety, Safety, Safety, Does It Look Good.........After all, you are considering a major structural change to the boat.

Safety: There is every chance that people will sit and/or stand on the poptop. The "box" that holds up the poptop will be unsupported. So, you need to design for both compression as well as sideways loading. The "box" will really only have three sides - sort of like a free standing garage with a flat roof. So, a sturdy structure is needed.

Safety: For much of the same reason as above, thought should be given to heavy weather conditions. What loads can the "box" withstand if hit with a boarding sea or in a knockdown. If crew members are holding on to the poptop, will it stay in place or come loose? How will the whole structure be secured to the main cabin top?

Safety: Think carefully about how your new hatchboards will affix to the boat. Will they easily be blown out of the "box" in strong gusts? Will they keep water from entering the main cabin in a knockdown or if you get pooped?

Does it look good: Take a close look at other pilot house boats. Carefully sketch - or take photos of - the cabin and pilot house from all angles. Look carefully at things like - (1) Are the verticle sides actually verticle or are they angled? (2) Is the top layed horizontal, or is it angled down in front or back? (3) Do the portlights and windows match the rest of the boat's design? (4) Finally, does the pilot house add to or detract from the overall lines. In-other-words, would the boat look better with or without the pilot house?

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

Members Avatar

Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 11/09/2003 : 15:29:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Bill Holcomb
 Finally, does the pilot house add to or detract from the overall lines. In-other-words, would the boat look better with or without the pilot house?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> In the photo gallery there are the pictures of the jaguar 25. I appears that they do not like pop-tops in the UK because none of the photos on our site or on the Jaguar site show a pop-top. Instead they show about a 4"rise in the coach roof makeing for much better permenant headroom with out the awkwardness of the pop-top contraption. Maybe that is the way to go. Have a look.

Edited by - on

Chip Hunt
Navigator

Members Avatar

120 Posts

Response Posted - 11/10/2003 : 00:07:36

i would like to see some photos of this. i am also curious as to how the companionway would be closed up when the boat is not in use.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.