hard top project

[bobberjockey]

i would like to fab a hard top for a bertram 28 and have a few questions on materials and lay up schedule. i plan on making a female mold for the top side and gelcoating then glass-core-glass. for the bottom side i would like to bond frp in thin panel form, bond and fair joints and then paint or gel. does this make sense? is there a better method? whats the best core material for this? want to keep it light.

ps what is the best core material to replace the rotton material attached to the bottom of the cockpit deck?
thanks

[yokebutt]

Bobber,

Use a male mold instead, a convex surface is much easier to fair. If you non-skid the top after fairing it out it'll look good the few times you actually see it.

Yoke.

[bobberjockey]

thanks for your help
do you think that plate aluminum could be bedded in at the frame attachments
and threaded or should it be through bolted?

[yokebutt]

Yes, you could, but I'd prefer G-10 instead.

Yoke.