Making a Hardtop for a Trawler

T

TJM

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Has anybody made or seen success with making a hardtop ? I am on a Trawler so it does not need to be"speed rated". I do not like the translucent tops that HTT make.
I am searching for a white cored material that is light and can be mounted on my existing bimini top. I might need a few additional supports, but that is easy.

Lightweight is my biggest criteria. For stability reasons, I do not want a thick fiberglass hardtop. The top does not need to be load bearing at all.
It will be app. 11' x 11' square.
I have worked with plastic and wood all of my life so I can do the fabrication if needed.
I am on the south shore of Connecticut.
 
Google Fiberglass over foam. Lots of auto applications. You may be able to adapt the concept.
 
How about aircraft construction, doped fabric over wood ribs?
 
Has anybody worked with Seaboard LITE ?
It is a cored HDPE that is UV stabilized that is machineable, formable with heat and hot gas weldable.
A 5'x 8' sheet of 1/2" thick weighs 90 pounds and costs $250 - 300.
 
I often wondered if the fiberglass panels used for trucks would work. Never could find them though.
 
Making a hardtop awning is pretty common. Any boat fiberglass shop can help. They use a slotted core material which allows it to bend into an arch and then glass it.
 
who is it here that builds trailers? he might have some ideas.
 
my hardtop has epoxie coated 1/2" plywood its not all too heavy
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