Pop Top and Sliding Hatch Modifications - Venture

[Captain_Kirk]

I had some ideas for some modifications for the pop top and sliding hatch and was wondering if I could get some feedback.

I've been repainting my entire boat starting with the deck and I've noticed the sliding hatch does not like to slide on the pop top at all, plus it's scruffing up all the paint I just put down. I was wondering if anyone has made a modification to prevent this rubbing and save the paint on both surfaces from damage. My idea for a modification originally comprised of getting some very thin plexiglass and attaching it to the base of the sliding hatch as well as to the pop top where the sliding hatch would be sliding along. This would cause the rubbing between the plexiglass only and save the paint. Recently I found some thin white vinyl boards at Home Depot so I'm thinking about maybe using that instead.

As for the pop top, is there a way to lock it in place or does it just sit up under it's own weight? Doesn't seem too safe to have it up and not locked in place in the case of an accident where it could possibly fall down. I've seen some people add some gas lifts to their pop top to not only make it easier to raise up be to also hold it in place. Has anyone here done that modification? Just wondering how powerful they should be and what length?

[topcat0399]

I had some ideas for some modifications for the pop top and sliding hatch and was wondering if I could get some feedback.

I've been repainting my entire boat starting with the deck and I've noticed the sliding hatch does not like to slide on the pop top at all, plus it's scruffing up all the paint I just put down. I was wondering if anyone has made a modification to prevent this rubbing and save the paint on both surfaces from damage. My idea for a modification originally comprised of getting some very thin plexiglass and attaching it to the base of the sliding hatch as well as to the pop top where the sliding hatch would be sliding along. This would cause the rubbing between the plexiglass only and save the paint. Recently I found some thin white vinyl boards at Home Depot so I'm thinking about maybe using that instead.

As for the pop top, is there a way to lock it in place or does it just sit up under it's own weight? Doesn't seem too safe to have it up and not locked in place in the case of an accident where it could possibly fall down. I've seen some people add some gas lifts to their pop top to not only make it easier to raise up be to also hold it in place. Has anyone here done that modification? Just wondering how powerful they should be and what length?

I guess you could put some plexi strips or something along the track where the companion way cover slides. Ours slides OK I guess. You wouldn't want it to slide too freely I'm thinking - could be a hazard.

As far as putting up the pop top - a V224 comes with a pair of struts for the front. You raise the top and hold it up, insert the 2 struts in the holders on the mast step deck, and set the pop top down onto the struts. Nothing holds the struts in on the bottom - just the weight of the pop top. There should be bolts that go thru the pop top with big washers and rubber discs and big wing nuts. These same bolts can be used to lock the poptop down when its not raised.

The strut mod is on our list to do. I also changed all of the poptop bolts to be captive to the top so they aren't juggling around.

I don't think the boat was designed to sail with the top up but people do it. When we finally replace our main sail I will get one that is has a luff length that will allow sailing with the top up if we want (admiral directive).

One of these darn days I will get around to putting up some photos for you.

[Captain_Kirk]

Ohh.....so these holders are for the pop top struts?
http://imgur.com/a/kxFiy

Ahhh, I thought they seemed oddly placed for flag holders. lol

I'm guessing these are the struts?
http://imgur.com/tmv668T

They don't seem to be for railing. So you put the pop top bolts back in after raising it and just stick the bolt ends through the holes on those struts?

[topcat0399]

Ohh.....so these holders are for the pop top struts?
http://imgur.com/a/kxFiy

Ahhh, I thought they seemed oddly placed for flag holders. lol

I'm guessing these are the struts?
http://imgur.com/tmv668T

They don't seem to be for railing. So you put the pop top bolts back in after raising it and just stick the bolt ends through the holes on those struts?

Exactamundo!

[Captain_Kirk]

Awesome!

I hope I can keep discovering the purpose of random parts I have laying around. haha

I think I'll still end up attaching a gas spring to the pop top making it easier for anyone to lift it up off of the cabin. I know what you mean about making the hatchway slide too easily, but it's a fairly heavy piece so I think it should be okay. I'll probably go with the thin strip of vinyl should provide more friction than plexiglass.

[topcat0399]

http://s729.photobucket.com/user/topcat ... ow/dasbOOt


Poke around in here if you like Captain Kirk. Its a looooong way from pretty at this point.

[Captain_Kirk]

Awesome, thanks for posting those. I really enjoyed looking through it. I like how the cabin is arranged, looks a lot more spacious than mine. I'll probably keep my cabin the same way it was when I got it.

I'll have to upload some pictures later, I have a ridiculous amount of them.

Here's the current state: http://imgur.com/a/1MEbP

Just one more coat of topcoat and then I have to do the non-slip, but I'd have to say I'm pretty proud how it has turned out since this is all brand new to me.

[topcat0399]

Awesome, thanks for posting those. I really enjoyed looking through it. I like how the cabin is arranged, looks a lot more spacious than mine. I'll probably keep my cabin the same way it was when I got it.

I'll have to upload some pictures later, I have a ridiculous amount of them.

Here's the current state: http://imgur.com/a/1MEbP

Just one more coat of topcoat and then I have to do the non-slip, but I'd have to say I'm pretty proud how it has turned out since this is all brand new to me.

FYI:

When you go to the site my link took you to - it starts a slide show.

If you click on the CAMERA ICON in the upper left - it takes you to the albums themselves.
Then click on the "dasbOOT" album and you will get a list of sub albums that you can also browse.

Your Venture is looking sharp - for a yard queen

[Captain_Kirk]

Nice. How exactly did you do your windows? They look really slick. I already cut my windows to fit the old frames otherwise I would have gone with something like what you did there, looks really good.

Haha. Yard Queen. I've never heard that before, but it's definitely fitting.

[topcat0399]

Nice. How exactly did you do your windows? They look really slick. I already cut my windows to fit the old frames otherwise I would have gone with something like what you did there, looks really good.

Haha. Yard Queen. I've never heard that before, but it's definitely fitting.

After reading and re-reading I don't know how many online narratives of how its done;

Removed the the old windows from the boat (for the 5th time in 2 years).
I neatened up the raggedy window cutouts Mac put in there with a straight edge, blue tape, power and hand sanding.
I bought a part of a sheet of bronze acrylic from a local glass shop (80 bucs).
I laid the old windows, frame and all, on the sheets and traced them.
I cut out the tracings on the acrylic with a fine tooth jigsaw = new windows.
I hand sanded to a fine finished the edges of the new windows.
I lined up the new windows on the boat and traced the cutouts from inside.
I traced the outside shape on to the boat.
I used a sharp knife and removed the acrylic covering from the inside edges and cleaned the acyclic thoroughly.
I prepped the glue surface on the outside of the boat (cleaned, roughed up, clean some more, clean some more, clean some more).
I taped around the window cutouts inside and out and I laid a bead of dow 795 around the outside of the window cutouts on the boat.
I plopped the acrylic onto the boat and installed a "press them on uniformly" but not too hard "system".
I waited until the glue kicked and trimmed off the excess glue inside and out.
I removed the tape.
I waited 3 days and removed the pressing.
Wala!

Now that how it was supposed to go.I won't bore you with the details of the clown act that actually occurred!
The glue was messy, the tape was a waste of time and materials, my pressing system was too ad hoc, the weather sucked and
time was extremely short - among other things. Having already lost a month of work/sail time this spring the glue needs 21 days to cure
before I could put the rail in the water. No yard queen allowed here! Restore while sailing is the way its gotta be.
Should take about 10 years I figure.

It turned out really nice in spite of all that. I expect these will never leak, plus they look good, are very strong,
and it changed the gun slits into actual windows.We LOVE them and I hope I never have to do this again - ever.

[Captain_Kirk]

Nice, thanks for the how-to.

I know what you mean about clown act. I ordered one sheet of smoked plexi, cut it and fit it, everything was going perfect and then I decided to put some silicon around the window. I made a HUGE mess. I tried to clean it off the windows and all I ended up doing was scratching up the perfectly cut new windows. I was pi$$. haha I ordered a new sheet and cut them out again. I didn't make a mess that second time around, but haven't sealed them with anything either. I got this rubber gasket that tightly goes around the plexi and then that edged plexiglass barely fits into the track for the window. It's pretty tight, not sure if it's water tight, plus over the years that rubber will probably shrink and cause some issues. I guess I'll see how it goes down the road.

I'm on year 3 since I bought the boat. My garage is just a few feet short so I have to work completely uncovered and the rain and heat loves to slow down any progress. Was hoping to sand and put my final coat of topside on tonight, but the 10% chance of rain turned into 100% chance and my boat is wet. Maybe tomorrow, at least with the temps hitting around 90-95 here it all dries pretty quickly.

I went about posting my progress pictures up: http://www.flickr.com/photos/99060202@N06/sets/

[topcat0399]

Nice, thanks for the how-to.

... I guess I'll see how it goes down the road. ....

......progress pictures up: http://www.flickr.com/photos/99060202@N06/sets/

I'll make a prediction for you: drip drip drip drip


lets start a running Venture 2-24 only thread in the Venture Forum

[Captain_Kirk]

I hope not. I have lots of 5200 to seal up things. ha

Sounds good to me.

[roadstarmedic]

I have a V22 and find the pop top to be extremely heavy to lift. Any info you could give me regarding the gas struts and how to install them would be appreciated.
Thanks!

[Captain_Kirk]

A quick Google search for gas struts and sailboat pop top will yield lots of results and information.

Here's a video I found of someone that installed some:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xrvJoXB ... e=youtu.be