Building Searay 380DA Fiberglass Hardtop

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Here is a pic of the supports Tiara uses for hardtops. They are very robust, and yet needed to be beefed up due to fractures that occurred while running in open waters. These show the design that emerged after earlier failures. It is easy to under estimate the forces that are placed on mounting hardware that result from twisting of the hull while underway.
 
The Tiara top is a much different design that the SR380DA....the SR has the entire aft edge of the hardtop permanently bonded to the radar arch,
 
Oops
I think you are referring to the strut bracing on the windshield? Sorry

if my single port and starboard bracing is insufficient I can always cross brace
Thx
 
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Gallf1 said:
The Tiara top is a much different design that the SR380DA....the SR has the entire aft edge of the hardtop permanently bonded to the radar arch,
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Yes. I understand it's different. Also, it is very firmly attached to the radar arch as well. All I'm saying is the torque forces in the hull caused fractures in the mounting hardware. These occurred above the windshield and required some beefing up. Just wondering if your design process considered those forces and the fasteners are strong enough to withstand the loads. My earlier SRs flexed quite a lot when running in blue water and leaked at the rubrails in heavy water. That creates forces on the hardtop.
 
One coat of TotalBoat Top Side Primer followed by one coat of TotalBoat Wet Edge paint....looking good and getting anxious to install on boat and start on the rear hardtop so that my wife can park car back in the garage!
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Here is what they did to mine to support the front... The pipe runs behind the windshield frame. It is attached to the frame as well


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Gallf1 said:
One coat of TotalBoat Top Side Primer followed by one coat of TotalBoat Wet Edge paint....looking good and getting anxious to install on boat and start on the rear hardtop so that my wife can park car back in the garage!View attachment 81158
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Your lucky, my wife made me do my last big boat project on my side of the garage.
 
UPDATE:
Soooo....finally got it out of the shop (garage) and installed. It is amazing how strong the Plexus MA530 Methacyrlate adhesive is! The hardtop tabs were coated with the adhesive and slid into the slots of the radar arch. In two hours it had catalyzed and despite some really aggressive pulling, torquing and even standing on the hardtop it wouldn't budge.
I removed the arch wiring cover plate to make sure the tabs were well coated with the adhesive and even added some more.
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Finishing touches needed to seal the slight seam of the hardtop to arch joint and touchup paint in a few spots from "installation issues" (next time beer AFTER not before).

Will take some outside view photos when I have the seam finished.
 
this is sweet man, nice job. Be sure to put up some pics of it with your canvas on when you get to that point as well
 
That is spectacular! I really appreciate you sharing this. I am new to boating and the Sea Ray world but I really like these boats. They have such classic lines. Your project is such a great compliment to your 380. I look forward to more pictures.
 
Sawwwweeeeett!!

looks great!
 
I may be overthinking this, so bear with me. I wonder if some sort of vibration dampening might be needed between the new hardtop and the windshield frame? Canvas has a lot of give and the hardtop to windshield framing looks pretty rigid.
 
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