Click for Walker Click for MotorCheck Click for Perko Click for Ocean Alexander Click for Furuno

Hardtop Bimini

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by T.K., May 27, 2008.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. T.K.

    T.K. Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,013
    Location:
    Cairo - Egypt
    I would like to remove the original soft bimini on my Squadron and build instead a GRP hardtop bimini.......something like on the Westport yacht in the pictures attached (both boats have a similar radar arch in design). I have also attached some pictures of my Squadron for reference.
    I would like to do it professionally so it suits the Squadron well and will look like original. I am seeking a professional workshop or boat builder who can build this GRP hardtop and fit it to my boat. If someone can do it, then I would suggest he/she flies to Egypt at my expense for taking measurments and to discuss options, manufacture it and then send it back to Egypt for installation or if the manufacturer is in the Med. area, when the boat is in the Med. during summer, it can be installed at any destination.
    I would appreciate any suggestions.

    Thanks in advance.

    Tarek

    Attached Files:

  2. T.K.

    T.K. Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,013
    Location:
    Cairo - Egypt
    Another picture of the Squadron from her rear........

    Attached Files:

    • 22.JPG
      22.JPG
      File size:
      54.9 KB
      Views:
      1,591
  3. GrahamF

    GrahamF Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2006
    Messages:
    537
    Location:
    Palma Spain/ South Africa
    Hi Tarek

    Have you contacted Fairline to ask for some advice on what you want to do? I am sure the designers will be able to come up with something for you. The only problem i can see is that Fairline would not want to change their profile of their boats as they are high speed boats. Please keep us up to date it would be interesting to see what it would look like. Good luck with you project I wish I was qualified to help, I would not mind a trip back to Egypt.
  4. T.K.

    T.K. Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,013
    Location:
    Cairo - Egypt
    Good morning Graham,

    Thanks for the suggestion. I will keep you posted with all progress related to my bimini project.
    You are always welcome at any time in Egypt......it would be a pleasure to have you here with us.

    Best regards,

    Tarek
  5. Yacht News

    Yacht News YF News Editor

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2006
    Messages:
    25,384
    Location:
    Caribbean
    I was going to suggest the same -refer to Fairline- but I see Graham's point very well. I also believe that if you get this done in the right and a professional manner that you would have an 'original 78 Squadron' that no one else has.

    Tarek, I am going to give you another suggestion but I will PM you.
  6. T.K.

    T.K. Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,013
    Location:
    Cairo - Egypt
    Thanks......PM received.
  7. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,353
    Location:
    South Florida
    Tarek,

    If memory serves me, the hardtop on the Westport 112' was not originally planned by the factory. One of their customers, a gent who owns a large cement/concrete manufacturing company in Florida, insisted on a hardtop for the boat, so Westport engineers came up a design that would integrate into the existing radar arch. Since then, most Westport buyers have opted for these hardtops.

    You may be doing Fairline a favor! ;)
  8. T.K.

    T.K. Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,013
    Location:
    Cairo - Egypt
    Excellent.......if I get it right we'll charge Fairline a fee if they want to adopt the idea ;).
  9. brunick

    brunick Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2005
    Messages:
    633
    Location:
    earth
    err - your next boat may be a westport ? ;)
  10. T.K.

    T.K. Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,013
    Location:
    Cairo - Egypt

    You never know ;).
  11. nbyacht

    nbyacht New Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2008
    Messages:
    3
    Location:
    New Bedford, Ma.

    I will build it for you.
    e-mail removed by admin
    Dennis
  12. T.K.

    T.K. Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,013
    Location:
    Cairo - Egypt
    Welcome to YachtForums ;).
  13. nbyacht

    nbyacht New Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2008
    Messages:
    3
    Location:
    New Bedford, Ma.
    Thank you. Good to be here.
    Dennis
  14. T.K.

    T.K. Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,013
    Location:
    Cairo - Egypt
    Hmmm.......it would be nice if Westport can do it for me ;). I really like the design and the way it's integrated with the radar arch. I would only add an opening in the center with a sliding shutter.
  15. Yacht News

    Yacht News YF News Editor

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2006
    Messages:
    25,384
    Location:
    Caribbean
    Well Tarek, it seems that you have quite a few options now for your envisioned hardtop. Only thing now is for you to choose an option.
  16. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,353
    Location:
    South Florida
    Dear Dennis,

    Before seizing an opportunity, it is best to do your homework. At YF, that starts with reading our rules on promotion and not posting your email address... on ANY open forum! Your address has been removed.

    In the future, you might consider making a proposal on how you would go about accomplishing this, or what experience you have to facilitate the same. To simply jump into a community, offering nothing except a solicitation... is poor forum etiquette.
  17. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2002
    Messages:
    20,353
    Location:
    South Florida
    Tarek...

    There are several 5-axis mills in Florida, two of them belong to friends that have made a number of molds for me. They also happen to be respected as the best in the biz. You'll need to supply CAD drawings that can be interpreted by their software to produce a foam plug. After that, you can source a someone to make a mold and pull a piece for you. A reasonably adept yard in your vicinity should be able to install it. Be sure to run the drawings by one of Fairline's in-house engineers for structural confirmation.
  18. AMG

    AMG YF Moderator

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2004
    Messages:
    5,375
    Location:
    Sweden
    If this is made from 3D-drawings and milled, you can save about half the cost by milling the mould! It will probably break when removing the hard top, but is good for one. Perhaps you need two pieces, one top and one bottom, if you would like to have less maintenance and nice surrounding shapes for spotlights, loudspeakers and such...
  19. T.K.

    T.K. Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,013
    Location:
    Cairo - Egypt
    That's true Ron..........what do you think of this hardtop, do you like the idea?
  20. T.K.

    T.K. Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2007
    Messages:
    1,013
    Location:
    Cairo - Egypt
    Thank you very much for the suggestions. Are the CAD drawings required of the full boat or the flybridge and radar arch? I would definitely like to install some spot lights and a couple of speakers.
    Do they also design the hardtop or how does it work?

    Kind regards,

    Tarek