Why would you buy a hardtop ?

segaerta

segaerta

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Given the alternative of a flybridge, why would you want to opt for a hardtop ? I have looked at a few recently and really miss that "wind in the hair feeling", actually feel even claustrophobic in a few.
Unless you go for a Princess V53-58 with a huge opening canvas starting at the windshield (and no, I can't afford one of these), many of the hardtops only offer an roof opening similar to an open roof in a car, which is not quite the same as a convertible, right ?

At least in a flybridge, as skipper you can choose wether you want to sit inside or outside ... in a hardtop there's no choice - always inside - and that for me is the downside of it.

Talking about flybridges - I'm still trying to make up my mind and looking into the 38-40 ft range and yes, still hesitating between an open cruiser or flybridge - I feel that in the 40ft range, the number of people that can have a comfortable seating on the flybridge is rather limited (for example on the AZ 39 there's really only 3-4 places plus a sunbed) so flybridge boats for me only make sense once you go beyong 45-50ft. Or am I wrong ... mind you been on one, so can't tell from experience, only guessing.

Cheers,
Alain
 
you need to define your market better imo - up to 10m HT rules..............in UK..........

Duncan-1.jpg
 
I think hardtops are a really good option for Northern Europe. Sportcruisers are useless cos if the weather changes you have to start messing with frames and press studs, and with a flybridge its usually too cold for a group of people to sit up top for an extended cruise, so the skipper ends up on his own. Even on a flybridge there's a fair bit of canvas to fit before leaving the boat.

Hardtops have high sides so your guests stay warmer in the cockpit, which means they stay in the cockpit, weather protection at the press of a button, and nothing to fit when its time to go home. If i was staying in UK i'd get one.

I also agree the big canvas hardtops are the best because the boat is more open when the weathers good, but that's clearly the minority view because the V58 now comes with a solid hardtop and as a result, a smaller opening.
 
I am interested in hardtops. I find I almost always have the canvas in place, we had about 4 days last year with the top down. The weather is just not good enough here in England IMO. If I wanted all that exposure I would get a yacht.

Soft I know /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The only down side for me is that many of the hardtops I like don't have a side door by the helm, I think this is a key requirement, so you can get to many places on deck quickly, without having to always go out via the rear of the cockpit.

I think for a flybridge you need around 40ft upwards. Mine is 32ft and catches enough wind, so I think a bigger heaver boat is probably better if its got an upstairs.

But hey what do I know! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
Today I'm looking at Targa 37-39's and V40's or Phantom 38 and want to cruise with family of 4 as well as do a day cruise with total of 8-10 on board.
If you were contemplating a hardtop in the 38-40ft range, what would be a good option anywhere between 125-150k£ second hand ?

Alain
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think hardtops are a really good option for Northern Europe

[/ QUOTE ]

Problem is you've painted an unreal picture as if it's always raining... Fortunatley that aint so and you hardly ever get caught out in a shower. I've done 700 hrs in the last 5 years and been caught out by the rain less than a handfull of times. At least with a sports cruiser you have the choice - covers up or covers down, with a hard top you're in a fish bowl regardless of the weather. How crap is that....
 
Sorry to hear you never have the top down. I usually do around 100 hours a year (only during week-ends and the odd day off from work, no holidays beyond an extended week-end on the boat) and always open.

Of course, we only leave when weather looks good and mostly remain in sheltered waters (Zeeland). Never really been out to sea or in anything beyond F4 so I guess that what I'm missing to see things like you do.

Cheers,
Alain
 
Or soemthing like a Sealine SC35/SC38 - where you get the best of both worlds, sort of. A hardframe/softtop, thats a lot less hassle to open than the usual poppers and damaged manicures, but doesn't batter the ears underway.

(Or the SC29, where I hit my head against the side frame /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif)

dv.
 
I did think of that, but the SC35 is a bit short, and the SC38 is HUGE money at 220K!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
You don't get many sport cruiser styled HT's under about 45' as they tend to look a bit ungainly, below that the more boxy scandinavian style seem more popular. You could look at a Windy 37 Grand Mistral HT?
 
Jez,
Fully agree as my pockets are never as deep as I want them to be and my wife keeps reminding me of this /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
On the Bav, I have to say I don't like 35-40ft boats with sunbed option as it eats cockpit space w/o adding a lot of value. Personal opinion though ...
 
Looking at the bav it's seems pointless, you either sit uncomfortable on the sun pad or inside under the hard top. Even with the roof off the open air will be limited. Not very social and rather smelly on a hot day...
 
Agree on the Elan too ... but rather small inside. I know : I want it all but at a cheap price /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Although after a few years now, I have found out that in boating that wish does not always materialise.
 
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