---

I am looking for a T-Top for my 1989 Outrage 20' for a bit of relief from the weather and also a top mounted electronics box so all my stuff stays out of the salt spray as much as possible. I called Boston Whaler today and they suggested that the boat I have does not have the strength in the floor boards to support a T-Top. I feel like I have seen quite a few older Outrages with T-Tops on them and I am curious what your experience has been with them. I live in Seattle and the boat is almost exclusively used in the Puget Sound. I have a weekend place on Herron Island in the south sound that I commute to and from on a regular basis and I am looking forward to some long weekends burning gas going from Seattle to Vancouver B.C. for some "fun experiences". Any thoughts on T-Tops and which ones would work for my boat with of without modifications to my boat? If the T-Top recommendation comes with modifications, what are they?

Thanks in advance!

Josh - new user!

---

Find a local shop to build you one, make sure it's secured to the floor and the console. Also make sure that your console is secured to the floor, rechecking all the connections. A T-Top puts a lot of strain on the boat so it needs to be securely mounted. Whaler used to have a recommendation on the CPD website that any boat under 25 foot and equipped with a T-Top should have trim tabs. This was to counteract the tenancy of a boat with a T-Top to catch air and to possibly
porpoise.

I never found the T-Top to provide much shade, that and for reasons other than the T-Top my console had ripped loose from the deck, I removed the T-Top and switched to canvas. There are times when i am trying to fish around the canvas, that I think I should have left the T-Top and switched it from a hard top to a canvas top and made it larger to gain more shade protection.

You can see a photo of my 18 Outrage with the T-Top on my personal page, if you want more photo's to show how it was attached to the console, send me an email and i'll dig them up.

---

Your Outrage looks very nice with that T-Top. Did you have to reinforce the floors at all so it didn't rip the boat apart? It gets pretty windy here in the Puget Sound and we sometimes go fast (45 mph) so I want to make sure its as solid as possible. I was planning on bolting it to both the floor and the center console, but take the floor board up first to see where the best place to bolt it thru would be and to make sure the center console is as tight and secure as it can be as well. In a weird way, I would be fine with the T-Tops with a removable canvas top and even take it down on the super windy days, which would still give me a few over head supports for passenger safety AND a top mounted electronics box so I can keep electronics out of the spray and have a good location for down firing speakers.

---

The T-top was on boat when i bought it, and the floor was not reinforced. There is wood on the deck and they used #14 screws 1 inch long and beded the legs in caulk. The supports on the center console were through bolted.

My console cracked and tore loose from it's mountings but was actually held in place by the t-top for 6 months before the engine died and i parked her for a new engine and a general refit.

The canvas T-Tops are just as strong, provide safety but I think catch less air. The hard top I had was like a giant sail especially if the wind was blowing the right way.

---

You can try a Bimi Tee Top. They bolt to the console, not the floor.

They have a shelf where you can put a box and provide mountings for antennas, lights, PA speakers etc.
They come in 3 sizes and are easy to use.
They also can be removed easy so you can put the boat in a garage if necessary. They are way cheaper than an installed t top.
www.bimiteetop.com 888 251 5911

---

Josh- I have an 89 outrage 18 with T top and I'm in Anacortes, WA so not too far from you. I had canvas installed to get some relief from the wind and rain. I'd be happy to talk to you about my likes and dislikes.

Luke

---

I installed a Stryker G300 on my Whaler 22 and I'm very happy with it. Looks great. Really solid.

---

I have a T top on a 17 Montauk which is attached basically the same way one would be attached to your boat. The only thing attached to my top is 4 rod holders, the all around navigation/anchor light, VHF antenna and a flood light. The top is Sunbrella fabric, laced on. I don't know how long the top has been on the boat as I've only owned it two years. I made one trip with the boat on the trailer from Fort Myers, Florida to St. Joseph, Michigan at speeds up to 75 MPH without having removed the canvas. I don't see how the wind could affect the canvass that much unless it were blowing vertically and that would be a tornado. My only complaint with the top is the reduced clearance beside the console. My boat is a 1984 and you can check my personal website photos and see the top is not new so it's been there a while.

---

I ended up ordering the Stryker GS600 (folding aluminum t-top). I will install and take photos and add comments on my experience. I am going to try to add some "L" Aluminum on the top for extra support the entire length of the CC and then extend them up to use as the rails for the cooler seat as well. Also hope to put some Aluminum sheet metal underneath to give the screws something more to bit into. Top should be delivered 08/16/2013. Thanks for the thoughts guys!

---

I think you will be happy with it. My canvas guy who does custom T's and enclosures in aluminium and ss couldn't match price and when he saw it installed was very impressed with the welding quality.

Mine is rock solid, screwed to the deck and braced off the console with the Stryker mounts. Don't think you will need any extra bracing for it.

I mounted it so the front legs are even with the front of the console so it doesn't interfere with the front cooler seat.

---

Any updates or pics of the T-top? Pondering what to do on my 22 Outrage. A custom fab one looks like $3,600 - $4,000. Just not sure I like the looks of the Stryker.