2000 DAUNTLESS 16: Adding T-Top

[BW16.4Dauntless]

Give me advice and comments on my plan to add a T-Top to my 2000 DAUNTLESS 16.

[Moderator's note: this post has been moved to the REPAIRS and MODIFICATIONS forum for discussion from the INTRODUCTION TO THE FORUM SOFTWARE forum. The INTRODUCTION TO THE FORUM SOFTWARE forum is not a boating forum and should not be used for boating topics.]

[Moderator's notes: this post has been edited to remove several other proposed modifications to the boat that might be planned in the future. Discussions which solicit comments about proposed projects to be undertaken in the future are best limited to one planned future modification per thread, as otherwise trying to discuss multiple proposed modifications in one thread just becomes confusing and hard to follow.]

[jimh]

Give me advice and comments on my plan to add a T-Top to my 2000 DAUNTLESS 16.

Here are ten reasons I recommend against your plan to add a T-Top to your 2000 DAUNTLESS 16:

1. 16-foot boats are generally not candidates for a T-Top due to the their relatively smaller beam which limits room around the center console;
2. the wind loading of a T-top will create a significant turning moment and exert considerable forces onto the attachment points for the T-top;
3. particularly on a Boston Whaler boat with its Unibond hull, unless the hull was specifically designed and built with embedded reinforcements intended to be used as attachment points for the T-top frame anchoring points, creating good anchor points will be difficult;
4. even if good anchor points are fashioned, the forces exerted on the hull may cause gel coat cracking and other signs of the stress created by the wind loading of the T-Top;
5. the wind loading of the T-Top will result in a considerable increase in drag and a reduction in boat speed, and with small boats the effect of added drag may be more dramatic than it would be on larger boats with more reserve horsepower;
6. towing the boat on its trailer on the highway at highway speeds of 45-MPH or greater will produce enormous turning moment forces from the wind resistance of the T-top, possibly causing more harm than any boat speed created wind could ever produce;
7. the general aesthetic of a relatively low profile boat like a DAUNTLESS 16 will be marred with a tall T-Top;
8. in terms of protection from exposure to sun and weather, a T-top generally does not cast as much useful shade nor deflect rain as effectively as a proper canvas weather cloth like a Bimini top or Flying top, which will also have less weight, lower wind resistance, and not cause excess stress on the hull at attachment points;
9. aftermarket T-tops will not be as well designed and as well crafted as an original Boston Whaler T-Top, and this difference will be quite obvious in the overall strength, style, and utility of an owner-added non-OEM T-Top; and,
10. any owner-added significant modification to a Boston Whaler boat can reduce the re-sale value of the boat, unless the modification is expertly done, is well-designed, and actually adds significant new functionality to the boat that was clearly missing in the original design of the boat.

[Jefecinco]

We owned a 1999 Dauntless 16 for approximately ten years and loved the boat. The 16 was powered by a 1999 Evinrude 115HP two stroke FICHT engine. The boat was bought with a bimini top installed. I agree with everything jimh wrote on this subject. We used this wonderful small boat for angling mostly. It's power to weight ratio was ideal. I unwisely sold the 16 to purchase a 190 Montauk for more room for angling. With three anglers on the 16 moving around was difficult and required a degree of cooperation by all aboard. Simple tasks like getting fresh bait from the aerated bucket was trying.

I believe the 16 Dauntless is simply too small for a T-Top. Our bimini top provided ample shade for all aboard. The added benefit of the bimini was the ease with which it could be removed and reinstalled. Literally a 5 minute task.

[GoldenDaze]

I owned a 2003 160 Dauntless for 21 years, and I also would not recommend a T-top, though I've seen it done. The width of the deck on either side of the console is fairly narrow to begin with, and restricting it further would be inconvenient at best. I'm also concerned with wind loads, both when trailering and afloat. In a strong crossing and rough seas I wouldn't want either the weight or the windage aloft on a small, narrow boat.

You can find the hull reinforcement diagram at https://www.bostonwhaler.com/content/da ... -2001.pdf; that's for a 2001 but I wouldn't expect it to differ over the years. Parts 39 and 42 might work for leg mounting points, but it looks like 39 is too far aft.

[jimh]

It has been a week since user BW16.4Dauntless created this thread. He has not logged into the forum since the initial posting. I hope he is reading the cogent advice being offered. Some acknowledgement from him would be appropriate.