T Top

[llama]

OK, I have an 03 210 cc. I do most of my fishing in the bays around Corpus Christi TX but plan on venturing out into the Gulf next year. ( we spend the winters in Texas). I would like a T top but my wife likes the bimini. With the bimini I can fold it down while fishing and it's out of the way. Other than the rocket launchers...what advantages would I have with a t top vs the bimini?

[Gearyg]

If I had enough power to support a T Top, I would get one. I currently have a Bimini, opposed to burning in the sun, I'll take the Bimini. However, I perfer not to use it when fishing because it is pretty difficult (if not some times impossible) to battle a large yellow that takes you around the boat 3 times, something you don't have to deal with if you have a T Top. Casting is also pretty difficult with the Bimini up. Most of the time if I can get away with it, I will leave the Bimini off as it does take up some room when I fold it down.

From what I have been told, a T Top will sacrafice about 10% of your power in general, something I cannot afford with a 115hp on a 210. These are my 2c.

[MolarBoater]

I've had both and the T-top is much better.

1. The t-top sits a little higher allowing more breeze to keep you cool

2. The material doesn't "heat" up as much as canvas

3. Much harder to put a hook in a T-top

4. The bimini is never "really" out of the way unless it is off the boat

5. You can mount two t-top bags that will keep towels/clothes/food perfectly dry
as well as life vests, hats, rain gear etc at arms length away.

6. Now you can mount antennae (vhf/FM or radar or XM) above your head so you
will now have more radio range and not expose your body to those radio waves.

7. You can now mount an electronics box, great place to put your vhf, FM or gps/sounder etc
and usually is lockable and weather tight too. I keep paper charts, fishing regs etc in there too.

8. You can mount out riggers on the t-top to improve your spread while trolling.

9. Rocket launchers get not only stored rods up and out of the way with hooks on them but I like
to fish with rods up there as it can make surface trolled lures skip and splash nicely on the surface.

10. The t-top fabric will last much longer than the bimini fabric.

11. You have something to grab onto, the t-top tubing can support body weight, just a bunch more hand
holds .

12. The t-top tubing can easily be used to lash things to with velcro straps securing gaffs and rod tips
as well as mounting mesh/vinyl storage pockets.

13. The kite effect is less (but still there) with a t-top while out on the water.

14. You will not hit your head anymore on the bimini tubing.

15. Going 70mph down the highway, the constant "flapping" of the bimini boot caused more wear on my
bimini top than 6 children armed with treble hooks, although after the 6 children, we then had
little holes all in the bimini which was reminiscent of looking at the stars on a clear night!

16. The t-top looks good and saying you have "rocket launchers" on your boat is just cool.

[llama]

Thanks for the input....I agree that a T top with rocket launchers is way cool! Personally, I think the the bimini looks kinda dorky I don't get to use my boat in the summer, so the heat thing is not an issue. In fact, I've never even opened the bimini on the water as it's never been too hot. The only reason I keep it on the boat is in case it rains. When I'm cruising or fishing, I keep it folded down over the transom where it is out of the way.
With or without a T top, the Triumph looks really cool on and off the water.

[Genelie]

Originally Posted by Gearyg

From what I have been told, a T Top will sacrafice about 10% of your power in general, something I cannot afford with a 115hp on a 210. These are my 2c.

I have 02 with a t -top and a 115...as for power seems okay for me, I know it cut down some of the fuel millage, but I still have plenty for an average of 200 - 250 mile range depending on the seas.