Hardtop boats! Whats the Point???

[Alistairr]

After watching the video of the Pred 72, it got me thinking!

What is the point of a Hardtop boat? I can maybe understand it on smaller boat, but when you go over say 35', is having a HT not just a waste of space?

I have to admit, I do think some of them look stunning like the Pred 72 and Absolute 47.
But watching the video of the Pred 72 on the move, they had the roof open a little bit, but basically you are still helming from inside the boat, I mean you can do that on a flybridge boat!! And if the weathers stunning you can helm from the fly. Seems to me if you want the wind in your hair buy a Sportscruiser or a flybridge, and if you want an enclosed helm, buy a fly and get all the entertaining room upstairs for free!!!

I do prefer Sportscruisers(especially the Absolute 39), but my wife thinks flybridge boats are best! Is HT boats just a compromise to keep everyone happy?

Anyone got the answers?

Cheers

Al.

 

[Richard Shead]

There is a 5 boat "mega test" on 47ft hardtops coming out in the Feb issue of MBY out 3rd Jan maybe that will answer a few questions!

 

[KevB]

I don't understand the point of a hard top either. If you want a roof get a flybridge. I guess hardtops are for the lazy amongst us who can't be bothered taking the canvas down?

 

[Alistairr]

Ooerr, any chance of a sneak preview??

Al.

 

[Richard Shead]

Only one copy in the office it's only just arrived!

Its not allowed out the building until the new year! But if you are on the 18:12 Waterloo / Shepperton service today you may get a sneak preview.....I shall be wearing brown shoes...oh and reading a copy of MBY

 

[Sundays_Child]

I've grown to prefer hardtops. Though they need improvement.

I agree that a hard top can give you a lot of "free" space on top as a flybridge, but it's on the part of the boat that moves the most. Swaying side to side all day gets tiresome.

In hot/cold/wet climes a fully open boat, even with lots of canvas, is not ideal, but then again the hardtops aren't as open as they should be. When open they should be really OPEN, meaning the retractable roof should be two or three sections sliding into each other and opening much more sky. Right now most hard tops open maybe 30 - 40% of their area, when they could be opening 60 - 80%.

IMHO, open boats are too open, and flybridges are too closed AND too open.

I basically like a convertible sitting room facing a waterfront balcony /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Alistairr]

Yes good point, a HT might be more acceptable if it opened the roof right up, i suppose something along the lines of the Sealine SC29, but maybe nicer done.

Al.

 

[hlb]

Whats the point in getting the lounge pissed through, just cos you hit a little bit bigger wave.

 

[KCook]

Err, here I thought the hardtop fashion was propelled mainly by style? More sleek looking than a flybridge piled up on top?

Kelly Cook

 

[Whitelighter]

I personally don;t like em - or small (sub 45ft) flybridges either. Boating for me is all about being in the open air, and for me a sports boat is the real deal.

 

[Renegade_Master]

being on my fly IS being in the open air I believe?.........."now thats the real deal"

 

[Renegade_Master]

I reckon there is a case for hardtop SC's in northern europe on account of your crap weather.

The guys in the pred may as well have been travelling in a fly from inside..........least if they had a Man 74 (wonderfull spacious fly on them) they could have had the choice inside or out so your point is valid

 

[[2068]]

This is where Sealine's "SC" range came from: research suggested that there was a significant proportion of sportscruiser owners who very rarely removed the front screens (too many poppers, hairpiece not affixed securely enough etc.), so a sliding fabric roof that opened up a LARGE area seemed like a good idea.

I think it works really well on the SC35 and SC38, but looks a bit ungainly on the SC29, but then again I have heard that slightly more SC29's have been sold than S29's, so what do I know?

dv.

 

[Sneds]

This is me on a nice day......

.......and on a cold day

Given the weather here in the UK I think a hard top would be my 1st choice.

 

[D3B]

SC v's S29

last info given was 130 SC29 against 30 S29.

There are still big rumours the S29 will be pulled due to low volumes...

and I originally ordered an SC29 /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

I am definitly inclined for a HT as my next boat
but I agree on Sundays Child comments some of them are too closed
I think a classic in this design still should be copied like the Pershing 54, with side windows opening the HT nearly opens all of it
still some of them are still to tight

 

[[2068]]

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Okay, remove the word "slightly" from the previous post.

I can't see the S29 being pulled, as they already have the moulds, and they roll down the same line as the SC29, so as long as someone buys one every now and again, it will probably limp on.

Odd, really, as I think the S29 is a very good looking sportscruiser, and would be my choice over an SC29 any day. Only downside I can see with the S29 over my S28 is the lower front windscreen edge (might lose hairpiece at higher speeds).

Also, if open sports cruisers are not selling, why are they bothering with the new 35 Sport open? This is so open, it doesn't even have anywhere to put a raydome /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

dv.

 

[D3B]

Dv

I know an S29 going cheap.....ish.....

/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[[2068]]

With a waterproof roof or a sieve?

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

dv.

 

[D3B]

Think you may know too much about my boat.....



But its all be sealed.........














Sikaflex works wonders /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif


I think......at last........ ALL the problems have been resolved, though i havent been on board for..

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a couple of days /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif