A few boat mods underway...25 Contender

[offshore]

I finally bit the bullet and decided to tackle a few projects on the boat. I had been putting off doing the Weblon on the T-top due to the complexity of my top. The Birdsall T-top is banded and the Weblon is pleated to fit the curves of the frame. After almost 12 years the Weblon needed to be replaced.
So since I was going to redo the Weblon I decided to do a few welding projects at the same time. I talked with Modilins welding in Farmville, NC and got the go ahead to bring the boat in for the mods.

Welding projects done:
1. Add supports for Cobia tower and aluminum standing plate.
2. Add removable Cobia tower with full bolster and two rod holders .
3. Add ladder, support, and two rod holder from leaning post to rear of
T-top.
4. Add new plate for teaser reels.
5. Add new support for new R/W Led overhead light.
6. Add Handholds on rear t-top legs.
7. Add two more wiring chase pipes from CC to T-top.
8. Add permanent center rigger mount.

Since I had to remove the wiring from the T-top I decided to go ahead and just rewire the entire T-top with new wire instead of just trying to use the old wiring. Its just easier to rewire with new wire. I also decided to make a few changes on the curtains.

Here are a few photos so far. Getting there slowly.

Boat back at the house after welding.





Lets not forget that when you modify the T-top,CC, and leaning post you have to modify other things. I had to modify the cover and Leaning post cover due to the ladder to the top. I also had to modify the CC cover due to the new Chase pipes.



Installation of the new Weblon. I took the old Weblon and used it as a template for the new Weblon top. All the materials for the top and other canvas mods were bought from SailMakers supply.





A photo from under the T-top showing the new LED light Standing plate, Teaser Reel mounting plate,zipout for T-top access and a partial of one of the hand holds. You can also see the mounting Plates for the Cobia tower



More photos to come as I get more done.

[blueh20pc]

Very nice Mark! I know you reference it as a Cobia Tower, however I have a feeling on those "down the weedline" trolls offshore, you'll have someone up top with a spinning rod and a seawitch!

Can't wait to see a pic with the tower mounted up!

[offshore]

Chris you know me!! Don't stop at the sea buoy!! Whites, Sails BMs Dolphin there all good!!

[offshore]

I finished putting all the screws in the band and trimming the top.. I was impressed with Birdsalls original install of the Weblon. There are over 100 machine screws that go in the band and when I removed the screws not one of them had and galvanic corrosion and none were frozen in place. When I talked with them they stated they use TefGel. So when I reinstalled all the machine screws I also put TefGel on them.
Now I can start putting everything back on the T-top. Yes that is frost on the cover!!

[welder]

Looking good, she will be ready for spring .

[offshore]

The weather was perfect today to get some serious work done on the boat so I took advantage of it. I got everything mounted back on the boat except for the outrigger standoffs. I will have to get two plates welded to the Cobia tower to mount them too. All I have left to do are the standoffs, the starboard standing deck with SeaDek for the crows nest and a few nights in the CC doing some wiring.
Below are a few more photos.
Mounting the new antennas with the new wedges I made from Starboard.



Re-mounting the Radar and radar arch.


A little of the new wiring for the white navigation light, flood lights, external speaker, antennas, etc. The two new Chase pipes really made a huge difference running the new wires and cables.


Mounted Cobia tower. I put SeaDek under the feet to protect the Weblon.






A view from above.




A view with the outriggers mounted.

[BW28]

Looks sweet! Can't wait to check it out.

[dawiggs]

Looks good Mark. You do good work!
See you soon..
dw

[offshore]

Hey Dave hope all is well! I hope to have the boat back on the lift soon.

[offshore]

Brown is going to have the standing plate that goes over the weblon and aluminum plate done Thursday. I am heading to Modlins early Thursday morning to have the outrigger holder plates welded on then to Fin-addict Marine to pick up the plate.
Here is the drawing for the Standing plate.

The standing plate will have SeaDek on the top. The two 4"x2"x3/8" rabbits will cover where the zipper goes back over the metal plate.