Installing the new Hardtop

[RussGW270]

I figured to start a thread to discuss and document the install of the new hard top. There is not a lot out there detailing all of this and what it takes to get a OEM style hard top and install it on a Grady. I will ramble a bit, but hope you get some insight if you are planning to get one.

First off, this is a hard top made by WMW Marine out of Winterville, NC. Jerry is “the man” to hook you up

They do not take credit cards and you can expect to pay in full before you start. No exceptions. The top itself was like 8200-ish, with what i chose to add, and I added 9 rockets, electronics box, wiring harness, led spreader lights, dome and anchor lights, and the crate to ship it was like 600 of that.

1600 to ship it.

It took about 3-4 months to build and ship, so set your expectations.

So, it shipped in a crate that was like 87” wide, but most trailers are 81.5” wide. We cut the crate up to strap it in.

If you have it shipped, it is required YOU have a forklift to remove it from the truck. I added forks to my tractor bucket BUT...you will need....NEED loooooonger forks. We barely got it down due to the length of the box/crate.

Now we are headed to the friend’s place where we have a lift to raise it and lower it onto the boat.

More later

Russ

 

[Toothpick 10]

I have a 2002 Islander with a factory hard top. Let me know if you need any photos of specific areas.

 

[RussGW270]

I appreciate that. We are drinking coffee and going to start soon. I will update as I can, but mainly tonight. Trying to document as much as possible.

 

[Lsquared]

good luck Russ i am sure it will turn out great

 

[RussGW270]

Okay, going to go over what we have done, how we did it, and things you have to look out for or plan for.

When raising the top, it is a balancing act to get it up level and also have it able to pan. We had to push it to one side to get it past the windshield and then sorta turn it and lift to get the back end back in the boat.

WMW ran 3 power lines through the chase and two down below. To run nmea 2000 is a major major major pain. Forget getting the radar ethernet line thru the chase, it is not happening.

We ran the nmea 2000 line down the left side and we ran cat6 down the left chase as well as the main connector for the Garmin as well. Now we are going to set the top and make measurements to cut the chase holes.

Also, hand rails on the aft cockpit walls have to be removed.

 

[RussGW270]

Top is attached.

The outermost legs, 2 of 3 holes will line up, even though you measured a dozen times. Drill all three, expect the backer plate to work with two and redrill the third.

The rest went fine. Top attached. Trying to run the wires below now. Having a hard time crossing the cabin to the console.

Always wear the fricken gloves for the 5200 sealant.

Now, have sealant everywhere. Will take a lot of scrubbing to clean the boat.
Running wires, then closing up the access and then adding all the accessories.

 

[Lsquared]

Nice ..congrats.

 

[RussGW270]

Thanks.

Right now, the boat is a total mess. The freaking 5200 got EVERYwhere because it was all over my hands. I have to figure out how the hell to clean it all.

The radar wedge I got in no way fot the Garmin GMR 18HD+, so mounted it but did not seal it till I can get a wedge that fits.

It fits domes that are 7”, and this clearly is not...albeit they said it was made for it.

Adding the gps and weather antennas and 2 vhf now.

We will have this done tonight and if I have the plug in the drawer...lol....lake tomorrow.

 

[leeccoll]

Nice job. Might try 0000 steel wool to get the 5200 off wetted down with some mineral spirits.
5200 gets everywhere you don't want whether you have gloves on or off. It's in its nature

 

[Ky Grady]

You have enough clearance to get the boat out of the shop with the top on?? May be the angle but it looks tight.

 

[RussGW270]

It is tight. One friend was drinking and sprung the damn door so we will be fixing it in the morning. We lost the small hex screw that holds one of the small Garmin antennas on, so we have the base on but I need to get a new one.

I am wondering if we messed up. The radar extends a little in front of the top. I did not notice it, was so excited to get it hooked up that we did not realize it was over the edge. Any idea if the wire area being exposed is a bad thing?

We did not goop it up as we got the wrong wedge and I wanted to order a new one. Not a huge issue if it is too far forward, will just have the two holes repaired later and 5200 them for now.

We have to hook the power up and run the vhf lines to the elec box and then clean the bejezus out of it.

Btw

R

 

[RussGW270]

I just realized. We did not mess up, I placed the radar right in front of the anchor light. I need to see how far in front of it the done is. Cannot be more than a few inches.

 

[RussGW270]

Ready for the coast!

 

[SkunkBoat]

next stop the canvas shop?

 

[RussGW270]

I have to recuperate first lol. I think I have about 65k into this boat now and I have yet to take it off the trailer.

Btw, the trailer worries me. It always smells like the brakes are cooking on it, but the entire brake system was rebuilt before I got it. Today, when I got it home, one wheel had popped the grease cap off and thrown red grease all over the wheel, another had grease on it and the cap was bulged and only slightly leaking. No-one will touch the trailer since they did not sell it and it is 15 yrs old and it has an 8k lb boat on it heh.

I am worried about taking it to the coast now.

 

[Lsquared]

Top looks great...ugg maybe time to change out the bearings.

 

[RussGW270]

They were all just rebuilt. I have the receipt. They had less than 5 miles on then when I got them.

 

[SkunkBoat]

trailers.....................

 

[RussGW270]

Here are the wheels

 

[Lsquared]

Over filled or the o-ring is shot