Is your center console lacking a top? Adding an aftermarket T-top is simple and cost-effective.
By Gregg Mansfield
A few years back, Sid Sutton was having a pre-owned center-console boat evaluated, and the inspector added a typical comment in the report.
“Buyer acknowledges that the vessel is without a hardtop and will regret this choice on sunny days,” Sutton read from the inspector’s report.
Despite that, Sutton purchased the used 22-foot Wellcraft, and after several months of fishing along the Alabama coastline, he realized he needed permanent shade on his boat. “The inspector was correct; I regret not having a T-top,” Sutton recalled. “Those words could not be more accurate.”
Boat manufacturers typically provide hardtops as optional features for smaller center-console boats to keep the initial price lower for novice buyers. Although not having a top may save money initially, buyers like Sutton often end up spending to add a hardtop later.
Consumers have numerous options among aftermarket T-top manufacturers that provide canvas or fiberglass hardtops. Installing a hardtop can be a good weekend DIY project for those with mechanical skills, or it can easily be managed by a marine mechanic.
We spoke with representatives from Atlantic Towers, which sells Tower in a Box, to learn how to attach an aftermarket tower to a center-console boat. Steve Tull established the company in the early 1980s and initially provided T-tops to Boston Whaler, Rampage, and Blackwatch.
Nearly twenty years later, Tull’s firm produced custom hardtops that were one-third lighter and comparable in price to traditional fiberglass retrofit hardtops. A few years after, Atlantic Towers introduced its Tower in a Box product at the Norwalk Boat Show.
Based in New Jersey, Atlantic Towers has templates for over 800 boat models, so there’s a significant chance they have the template for your specific model. The T-tops can be customized with interchangeable parts.
The easiest way to determine if your center-console boat can accommodate a tower is to consult with the aftermarket tower manufacturer from whom you plan to buy. If the boat was made in the last ten years, get in touch with the builder, who may offer contact information for the original tower manufacturer (if it wasn’t built by them).
Most center-console boats feature a windscreen, so ensure that any aftermarket tower is taller than the windscreen or be ready to modify the screen.
Consumers can choose between T-tops with canvas or fiberglass coverings. While the hardtop is pricier and heavier, it demands less upkeep, such as fabric replacement. Tull of Atlantic Towers suggests using high-quality Sunbrella fabric for the canvas.
“Quality is crucial here,” Tull explained. “If you lack quality fabric that can be stretched tightly like a drum and retains that tension, it will stretch and sag, causing annoying flutter.”
When your T-top arrives, unpack it and perform a rough assembly on the ground. The manufacturer suggests applying petroleum jelly on the Allen bolts to facilitate installation and adjustments. It’s crucial not to tighten the bolts fully to allow for minor adjustments when positioning the tower.
Atlantic Towers advises constructing temporary wooden supports to hold the T-top in place on the boat during final installation. These supports help check for adequate headroom, typically 75 to 78 inches. This is also the final opportunity to ensure that the T-top supports are correctly positioned and for the installer to move around the boat.
The most significant challenge in installing an aftermarket tower is ensuring it is securely fastened to the cockpit. The ideal technique involves drilling screws through the hull and using backing plates. However, with some boats, it may not be possible to access the voids for backing plate installation due to foam filling or fuel tanks obstructing the way.
Tull mentioned that the company developed a “glue and screw” method seven years ago that supports the tower without needing through-bolts. The key is to drill holes where the bottom is sealed, he noted.
Most deck soles and gunwales measure 3/4” or 1” thick, and Tull recommends using a metal coat hanger to gauge depth after drilling a hole. Professionals often rely on a drill stop or tape on the drill bit for depth measurement. Either method speeds up the process. Be sure the components fit correctly before using MarineTex epoxy to securely install the pins.
“When you insert that screw into the epoxy, it acts like an auger, forcing the epoxy into the core material rather than simply pushing it through,” Tull explained. “If you drill all the way through, take some masking tape, crumple it up, and press it at the bottom of the hole. It will hold the epoxy long enough for you to insert that screw.”
Tull stated that the company has completed over 10,000 T-top installations, with no reported issues whether using backing plates or the “glue and screw” method.
Once the T-top frame is secured, the manufacturer advises mounting lights, antennas, or other electrical equipment before attaching the Sunbrella fabric top or fiberglass hardtop. Once the top is securely in place, use a thread locker like Loctite to prevent Allen bolts from loosening.
The tower may flex while the boat is moving quickly, but it should not produce noise if installed correctly.
“No boat is completely rigid; the hulls always flex and encounter a variety of dynamic forces despite appearing to be a straightforward structure,” Tull noted. “There shouldn’t be any clocking, metal contact, or anything.”
The expense of hiring a professional for tower installation can vary depending on the region. Tull noted that investing in a tower could increase a boat’s resale value.
“I cannot predict the future value of your boat,” Tull stated. “However, I can assure you that whether you enhance it with a T-top, one of our aftermarket hardtops, or a water sports system, your boat will sell faster.”
Sutton concurs that incorporating a hardtop will boost a boat’s value. Reflecting on his used boat purchasing experience, Sutton observed that boats lacking a T-top remained on the market longer.
“Given the current hot used boat market, a T-top might not make much difference,” Sutton said. “But once the used market cools down, those without a T-top will regret their decision.”
Atlantic Towers, 800-831-8889, www.atlantictowers.com