Beneteau ST 42 - hardtop

[FREX]

Hello. Any experience with replacing Bimini top with a hardtop?

 

[Comodave]

Welcome aboard. We have put several hardtops on boats but not that particular boat. The company we used for two of them is out of business. We used Atlantic Towers for one and it was top quality.

 

[lipets]

I did it, but hurricane took it away.

Now put the frame back on re-enforced a bit for solar panels and ordering new canvas.

A hard top is big for this boat about 10x10, to have that fab up expect $7,000 plus

 

[FREX]

Do you mind sharing photos of installation of posts.

 

[lipets]

https://www.trawlerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=906774&postcount=22

 

[PM]

I wouldn't do it. Two reasons: What about when you want the sun? They offer a lot of "sail" area which might effect docking and be a pain in a storm.

pete

 

[Comodave]

As to the sun, some of us have had multiple surgeries to remove skin cancer. The hardtop helps us from more sun exposure. And they don’t add much more sail area than a bimini. Our never stopped us from docking.

 

[Xlantic]

I replaced my bimini with six 1 x 2 metre panels that serve as a hard-top.

At less than €200 per panel they were not much more than Sumbrella and gave 2kW of power which allowed me retire my ancient Onan.