I would like to de-attach and re-attach the T-top of my boat. But
before I do this, I want to make sure that I will be able to re-attach
it. The problem is that I have very little access to the under-deck
area right under the legs of the T-top. There is only around 2" to 3"
space underneat the deck -- I can stick my hand into it, but I cannot
turn my hand to do any work. Therefore, I am looking for a way to
attach the T-top onto my deck from above the deck.

Any trick that people can offer? Thanks.

Jay Chan

I assume this is a Center console boat. Is there a backing plate
underneath the deck of just thick glass holding the T-Top. I saw
another boat where the owner had reversed the way he had it attached.
He put the head of the boat underneath the deck and help the T-Top with
a pair of nylocks

I would like to de-attach and re-attach the T-top of my boat. But
before I do this, I want to make sure that I will be able to re-attach
it. The problem is that I have very little access to the under-deck
area right under the legs of the T-top. There is only around 2" to 3"
space underneat the deck -- I can stick my hand into it, but I cannot
turn my hand to do any work. Therefore, I am looking for a way to
attach the T-top onto my deck from above the deck.

Ratcheting box end wrenches?

But one example:
http://www.armstrongtools.com/newproducts/geared.jsp

Either that or use an air ratchet with a shallow socket. There's probably
enough room to get one in there, possibly with the nut already in the
socket. Just keep a suitable magnet handy to fish the darn things out of
there if/WHEN they wiggle loose.

If you are using stainless hardware, probably a good idea, you can pretty
much forget about getting any help from a magnet.

Butch
"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On 19 Apr 2006 11:11:00 -0700, "
wrote:

I would like to de-attach and re-attach the T-top of my boat. But
before I do this, I want to make sure that I will be able to re-attach
it. The problem is that I have very little access to the under-deck
area right under the legs of the T-top. There is only around 2" to 3"
space underneat the deck -- I can stick my hand into it, but I cannot
turn my hand to do any work. Therefore, I am looking for a way to
attach the T-top onto my deck from above the deck.

Any trick that people can offer? Thanks.

Jay Chan

It isn't clear whether you want to do this more than once.....

If you intend to do this on a regular basis, I'd consider having some
stainless plates made to go on the back side... you really do want
through-bolts. Drill and tap the plates to match the existing holes
and attach the plates with countersunk stainless screws.

Once installed access to the back side becomes unnecessary....

wrote:
I assume this is a Center console boat. Is there a backing plate
underneath the deck of just thick glass holding the T-Top. I saw
another boat where the owner had reversed the way he had it attached.
He put the head of the boat underneath the deck and help the T-Top with
a pair of nylocks

Seem like someone placed the backing plate for the T-Top _above_ the
deck instead of underneat the deck of my boat. And that backing plate
is not stainless steel and has rusted extensively and is peeling off
rusted chips all over the place. This is the reason why I want to
detach and re-attach the T-Top.

Mine is a very strange way of attaching T-top. But sound like what you
saw was even stranger.

I will surely add a stainless steel backing plate _underneat_ the deck
if I can somehow hold it in place while I am attaching the bolts and
nuts. I probably need to use some hot-glue or something to temporarily
hold the backing plate in place.

Jay Chan

Bill Kearney wrote:
I would like to de-attach and re-attach the T-top of my boat. But
before I do this, I want to make sure that I will be able to re-attach
it. The problem is that I have very little access to the under-deck
area right under the legs of the T-top. There is only around 2" to 3"
space underneat the deck -- I can stick my hand into it, but I cannot
turn my hand to do any work. Therefore, I am looking for a way to
attach the T-top onto my deck from above the deck.

Ratcheting box end wrenches?

But one example:
http://www.armstrongtools.com/newproducts/geared.jsp

Either that or use an air ratchet with a shallow socket. There's probably
enough room to get one in there, possibly with the nut already in the
socket. Just keep a suitable magnet handy to fish the darn things out of
there if/WHEN they wiggle loose.

Thanks. The ratcheting wrench idea sounds good, and this gives me one
reason to buy more tools and this is always a good thing. And I
probably ask my wife to do this because she has small hands that
probably can fit into the small space underneat the deck.

Jay Chan

Gene Kearns wrote:
On 19 Apr 2006 11:11:00 -0700, "
wrote:

I would like to de-attach and re-attach the T-top of my boat. But
before I do this, I want to make sure that I will be able to re-attach
it. The problem is that I have very little access to the under-deck
area right under the legs of the T-top. There is only around 2" to 3"
space underneat the deck -- I can stick my hand into it, but I cannot
turn my hand to do any work. Therefore, I am looking for a way to
attach the T-top onto my deck from above the deck.

Any trick that people can offer? Thanks.

Jay Chan

It isn't clear whether you want to do this more than once.....

If you intend to do this on a regular basis, I'd consider having some
stainless plates made to go on the back side... you really do want
through-bolts. Drill and tap the plates to match the existing holes
and attach the plates with countersunk stainless screws.

Once installed access to the back side becomes unnecessary....

I only intend to re-attach it once.

Why do I need a stainless steel backing plate (instead of a regular
galvonized plate) if I need to re-attach the T-top frequently?

Jay Chan

wrote:
Gene Kearns wrote:

On 19 Apr 2006 11:11:00 -0700, "
wrote:


I would like to de-attach and re-attach the T-top of my boat. But
before I do this, I want to make sure that I will be able to re-attach
it. The problem is that I have very little access to the under-deck
area right under the legs of the T-top. There is only around 2" to 3"
space underneat the deck -- I can stick my hand into it, but I cannot
turn my hand to do any work. Therefore, I am looking for a way to
attach the T-top onto my deck from above the deck.

Any trick that people can offer? Thanks.

Jay Chan

It isn't clear whether you want to do this more than once.....

If you intend to do this on a regular basis, I'd consider having some
stainless plates made to go on the back side... you really do want
through-bolts. Drill and tap the plates to match the existing holes
and attach the plates with countersunk stainless screws.

Once installed access to the back side becomes unnecessary....


I only intend to re-attach it once.

Why do I need a stainless steel backing plate (instead of a regular
galvonized plate) if I need to re-attach the T-top frequently?

Jay Chan


Here on the salt water we only use stainless steel or aluminum backing
plates. Why ask for trouble?

I use a stainless backing plate on anything that is boat thru, even on
the cleats.

wrote:
I use a stainless backing plate on anything that is boat thru, even on
the cleats.

I was asking why I definitely need a stainless steel backing plate if I
intend to re-attach the T-top frequently. I believe you have answered
my question. If I am going to re-attach the T-top very often, the area
where the bolt gets through the desk will not likely to be very
water-tight, and will tend to rust the backing plate if the backing
plate is not stainless steel. Thanks for giving me the hint to figure
this out.

Althought I am not planning to re-attach the T-top repeatedly, I will
still use a stainless steel backing plate -- This is kind of a "get it
done and don't want to re-visit" kind of task.

Jay Chan