Pop top is a killer

[Doc_holiday]

What do you guys use to secure your pop top in the up position? I have a slide in the mast that basically hooks under the lip of the pop top and it has allowed the pop top to fall several times. Yesterday alone it came down on my daughters friend and again later on the admiral. She said "Fix it, sell it or we're done sailing".

I don't want to drill a hole in it and I am at a loss. Will struts help or what can be done? Some sort of jam bar?

This is a 26s by the way

 

[justsomeguy]

Perhaps the classic pneumatic strut upgrade?

 

[BudGates]

I understand your problem Doc. Mine fell on the admiral last fall. I tried taking pictures of my remedy but it didn't show anything. I still use the original hook that slides under the lip at the forward edge of the pop-top but instead of relying on the thumb screw and friction to hold it in place I added a 1911 recoil spring inside the bolt-rope groove to hold the slide/hook up. I placed an empty .45 acp shell on the ends of the spring so it can move freely without binding and added a sail slide stop to support the bottom. I haven't had any problem with it since.

 

[woodster]

well Doc...as much as you like messing around with boats and i am sure that you love the
admirals roast beef ya better get the drill out or you will be eating beenie weenies in the bay

 

[centerline]

I don't want to drill a hole in it and I am at a loss. Will struts help or what can be done? Some sort of jam bar?

This is a 26s by the way

you can add other devices (struts, prop rod, springs) but the simplest and ultimately the safest is the drilled holes so you can lash it up.

There is nothing ugly or wrong with a well placed hole in the name of safety when it has been carefully installed and chamfered.

I would drill two holes, one on each side of where it comes near the mast and then it can be quickly secured when it's up..

As for adding struts to solve the problem, it probably wont.
I have struts and the only thing it does it help lift it and hold it up in calm water. If I don't put a safety prop in it, it will come slamming down whenever we encounter a big wave or wake.... or whenever someone uses it as a handhold when going forward on the deck.

I don't know your admiral, but I'm assuming she wants it done NOW, and with out ever a chance of it happening again.... the simple holes will take care of the issue...

 

[Doc_holiday]

You all are probably right. It sounds like holes are the answer. After it hit my daughters friend, I tightened the thumb screw but it jumped out. Getting hit in the head is not fun but someday someone is going to get a hand caught and that will be worse.

I figured the struts wouldn't help as far as falling goes. I may had this later to help with the lift but stopping it from falling is first priority.

It's hit me a couple times but now that it's hit others I guess it needs to be fixed.

 

[Picflight]

I think fix is long over due, take pictures, lots of them.

 

[chp]

Mine will never fall down. Although it can be a slight bit of a problem to set it up, I can lean on it going forward and it is fairly solid. You can see the struts at the back of the pop top.

 

[Doc_holiday]

So you engage them once it's up? Where do they stow?

 

[chp]

They swing up parallel to the pop top frame. Then I just use short bungees to hold them. You can see it in the top left of the picture.

 

[Sumner]

Boat came with this stuff except had a wing-nut that I replaced with the nut with the handle on it as it is easier to hold onto and use.

It all works fine, low tech, never fails and is quick to use. Don't plan on changing any of it ,

Sumner

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[Doc_holiday]

I think I see my recent failures and why. Thanks all I realized that last year, I had a cleat that had a bolt and nut (the nut was inside the track) While cleaning out the shed, I found the MacGregor slide thing. (Remember I had to replace the mast). So I used it. One of the problems is because it no longer stayed stationary in the mast slide. One small bump and it would fall and release the pop top

I like sumners plan too but since I don't have a welder I can use one of those all thread coupling nuts. Easy to hold and turn. Thanks a million and I will take pics of the final product.

 

[Chris & Lenore]

It can't fall with the factory slider/thumbscrew?????

The thumbscrew goes through the metal tang on the slide and then through a hole in the pop top. There is no way it can fall down. The instructions I had (from Macgregor) specifically said to ensure the thumbscrew is threaded all the way in and through the hole in the pop top lid.

Typical Macgregor - simple, elegant and 100% functional.

Wish Teliki wasn't in winter storage or I'd take a picture.

Maybe all you need is a hole in the poptop lip where the backside of the thumbscrew can go through (and a long enough thumb screw to go all the way to the mas slot. No way it can inadvertently fall down...

 

[Chris & Lenore]

The thumbscrew goes through the metal tang on the slide and then through a hole in the pop top. There is no way it can fall down. The instructions I had (from Macgregor) specifically said to ensure the thumbscrew is threaded all the way in and through the hole in the pop top lid.

Typical Macgregor - simple, elegant and 100% functional.

Wish Teliki wasn't in winter storage or I'd take a picture.

Maybe all you need is a hole in the poptop lip where the backside of the thumbscrew can go through (and a long enough thumb screw to go all the way to the mas slot. No way it can inadvertently fall down...

Need to add that the tang of the sliding part goes BEHIND the lip of the poptop (aft..) - not in front of it. The thumb screw screws FORWARD through the tang and then through the hole in the poptop lip and all the way to the mast slot (about 1/2 inch).

This makes it easy - one hand holding the poptop up and the other turning the thumb screw - easy as pie.

Chris

 

[Doc_holiday]

I got that. No hole in pop top but I can remedy that

 

[Diver960]

Hey Doc...sorry for the late reply, I just saw this thread. As you know, I am brand new to this, and we just bought our first boat, which is already in winter storage, so I am not sure you want to listen to me, but here's what I use on mine. I have two stainless holders on top of the cabin where two stainless rods fit in with cotter pins to hold them in place. They fit into the pop top when it's up, and the tops sides are secured by bolts. There's no way it will fall when up. She's in storage now, so I apologize that I can't send pics, but hope this helps!

 

[Piotr]

Doc, for the time and money it took (I think $90 and 45 minutes total) I would definitely recommend the struts. It's a mod that made the Admiral a happy woman. They keep the top in the air without any other supports, can hold my weight (185 lbs) and allow my 13-year old to open it up and close it without a problem. one mod solved several problems! I would definitely recommend it.

 

[chp]

Doc, for the time and money it took (I think $90 and 45 minutes total) I would definitely recommend the struts. It's a mod that made the Admiral a happy woman. They keep the top in the air without any other supports, can hold my weight (185 lbs) and allow my 13-year old to open it up and close it without a problem. one mod solved several problems! I would definitely recommend it.

That is my next year project. I will still use my solid struts, but I like the idea of not struggling to get the top up.

 

[BudGates]

The thumbscrew goes through the metal tang on the slide and then through a hole in the pop top. There is no way it can fall down. The instructions I had (from Macgregor) specifically said to ensure the thumbscrew is threaded all the way in and through the hole in the pop top lid.

Typical Macgregor - simple, elegant and 100% functional.

Wish Teliki wasn't in winter storage or I'd take a picture.

Maybe all you need is a hole in the poptop lip where the backside of the thumbscrew can go through (and a long enough thumb screw to go all the way to the mas slot. No way it can inadvertently fall down...

There was a hole in my pop-top when I got it, probably installed by a previous owner because it wasn't centered very well and it had broken out. The spring makes it quick and easy. Once the top is raised it takes about 3 seconds to pull the tang down, lean the top against the mast, and let the tang up on the inside of the lip.

 

[BudGates]

Hey Doc...sorry for the late reply, I just saw this thread. As you know, I am brand new to this, and we just bought our first boat, which is already in winter storage, so I am not sure you want to listen to me, but here's what I use on mine. I have two stainless holders on top of the cabin where two stainless rods fit in with cotter pins to hold them in place. They fit into the pop top when it's up, and the tops sides are secured by bolts. There's no way it will fall when up. She's in storage now, so I apologize that I can't send pics, but hope this helps!

My V-222 had the same thing. Unfortunately the Mac 26 classic pop-tops are different than their predecessors. The earlier models tilted to the rear as the top is raised. The 26C models tilt forwards. I like the newer design a lot better. The older design took away room from the cockpit and both my wife and I would bump our heads on it.