Gas Spring Assist for Pop Top Lifting

[Aldo]

Have any of you added the gas springs that help to lift the pop-top, onto a pre 1985 C-22? I saw the gas springs on a 1986, C-22, and the owners loved it, but I didn't get a good look at the set-up and still wonder if it will fit onto my boat. It looks like Catalina Direct sells a kit for ~$130 with the parts to do this. Boat US and West Marine sell the gas shocks for ~$15, or ~$20, each respectively, and the mounting brackets are about $5. So my question is have any of you installed gas springs on a pre 1985, and also how much does it reduce the initial lifting force required? Looking at the photo in Catalina Direct's book, it looks to me like there would still be a good amount of intial lifting force required, but after the pop-top starts going up, the springs would take over the lifting and it would then become about effortless. I haven't done the calculations yet. Thanks, Aldo

 

[Frank Gloss]

Great idea Aldo

I too have thought about figuring out this problem myself after I saw some shocks in the marine store. If you get this figured out, will you post your solution please?By the way, I am a big fan of Catalina Direct. the folks there have really helped me out in refitting my older C-22 (Wind Magic, # 10446) Lindsey is especially knowledgeable.Good luck, and keep up the good workFrank

 

[Matt]

I installed gas shocks on my poptop.

I bought two 90?lbs. (I could be wrong but I'll check) shocks from West Marine and a couple of brackets for a total of around $50.00. It is still pretty tough to get the top started to go up, but it gets easier once you hit the "threshold" point.It makes a difference to have them. I don't know what Catalina Direct's kit has that mine doesn't, but at a savings of $90 or so bucks, I'll put a little extra muscle behind my push.