Pontoon Boat Hard Tops

Pon­toon boats have become a pop­u­lar choice for many recre­ation­al boaters over the past few decades. They are known for their sta­bil­i­ty, afford­abil­i­ty, and spa­cious­ness, mak­ing them an ide­al choice for a vari­ety of activ­i­ties. One of the best ways to add extra pro­tec­tion, com­fort, and style to your pon­toon boat is to add a hard top. This arti­cle will explore the ben­e­fits of pon­toon boat hard tops, how to select the right one for your needs, and how to install it prop­er­ly.

What is a Pontoon Boat Hard Top?

A pon­toon boat hard top is a met­al frame that is mount­ed on the deck of your pon­toon boat, usu­al­ly at the bow and stern. The frame is then cov­ered with either a can­vas or vinyl cov­er­ing, pro­vid­ing an addi­tion­al lay­er of pro­tec­tion from the ele­ments. The hard top also helps to reduce noise and pro­vides addi­tion­al shade, mak­ing it a great addi­tion for any­one look­ing for a com­fort­able and styl­ish boat.

1. Sun Pro­tec­tion: The pri­ma­ry rea­son many boat own­ers opt for a hard­top is to pro­tect them­selves and their pas­sen­gers from the harsh sun. A day out on the water can quick­ly become uncom­fort­able with­out some kind of shade.
2. Weath­er Shel­ter: Beyond just sun pro­tec­tion, a hard­top can also pro­vide a refuge from sud­den rain show­ers or strong winds, enabling you to enjoy your boat­ing trip even in less-than-ide­al weath­er con­di­tions.
3. Stor­age Space: Many hard­tops come with built-in stor­age com­part­ments or racks, pro­vid­ing a place to stow away gear or per­son­al belong­ings.
4. Mount­ing Equip­ment: The hard­top can also serve as a plat­form for mount­ing oth­er equip­ment, like rod hold­ers, anten­na, lights, or even a radar sys­tem.
5. Solar Pan­els: Some boat own­ers use their hard­top as a base for installing solar pan­els. This is an eco-friend­ly way to gen­er­ate some extra pow­er for your boat’s sys­tems or for charg­ing gad­gets.
6. Safe­ty: In case of an emer­gency, a hard­top can offer a bit of extra safe­ty. It’s a sol­id struc­ture that can help pro­tect you and your pas­sen­gers if things go side­ways.

They are designed to be easy to install and light­weight, mak­ing them an excel­lent choice for those look­ing to add extra pro­tec­tion to their pontoon boat. They are avail­able in var­i­ous sizes and col­ors, allow­ing you to cus­tomize your pontoon boat to match your style. It can also increase your pontoon boat’s val­ue by pro­vid­ing extra pro­tec­tion from the ele­ments and mak­ing your boat more attrac­tive and com­fort­able for pas­sen­gers.

Benefits of a Pontoon Boat Hard Top

A pontoon boat hard top pro­vides sev­er­al ben­e­fits for boat own­ers. It pro­vides a shaded area on board, pro­tect­ing you and your guests from the sun and oth­er ele­ments such as rain or wind. It also pro­vides a place to hang items like lights and speak­ers, allow­ing you to cus­tomize your boat and make it your own.

• Pro­tec­tion from Ele­ments: A hard­top can offer you and your pas­sen­gers some wel­come respite from the sun’s harm­ful UV rays, keep­ing you cool and sun­burn-free. It can also serve as a shel­ter dur­ing unex­pect­ed rain show­ers or gusty winds, so the par­ty does­n’t have to stop when Moth­er Nature has oth­er plans.
• Extra Stor­age Space: Some hard­tops come with added stor­age options, giv­ing you more room to stow away life jack­ets, fish­ing gear, or even the pic­nic bas­ket.
• Equip­ment Mount­ing: Want to add some fish­ing rod hold­ers, solar pan­els, or even a radar dome? The hard­top’s got you cov­ered. It serves as a stur­dy base for mount­ing all your essen­tial gear.
• Ele­vat­ed Views: A hard­top can pro­vide a high van­tage point which is use­ful when nav­i­gat­ing through crowd­ed water­ways or when dock­ing.
• Safe­ty: A well-con­struct­ed hard­top can add to your boat’s over­all safe­ty. It can pro­vide some pro­tec­tion from falling over­board in chop­py waters and in a worst-case sce­nario, it could even be a life-sav­ing grab point.
• Adds Val­ue: A hard­top can increase your boat’s resale val­ue. It’s seen as a desir­able fea­ture for many prospec­tive boat buy­ers, so it could be a sound invest­ment for the future.

It helps to make your boat more sta­ble in the water by pro­vid­ing addi­tion­al weight to the deck and reduc­ing sway. It also adds an extra lay­er of pro­tec­tion against any poten­tial dam­age that could occur in rough waters.

Protection from the Elements

One of the main ben­e­fits of a pon­toon boat hard top is the addi­tion­al pro­tec­tion it pro­vides from the ele­ments. The hard top shields you and your pas­sen­gers from the sun’s rays, rain, and wind, mak­ing your time on the water more enjoy­able. The hard top also helps to reduce noise, mak­ing con­ver­sa­tion and music more enjoy­able.

Style

A pon­toon boat hard top also adds a touch of style to your boat. You can choose from a vari­ety of col­ors and styles to match the look of your boat. Hard top gives your pon­toon boat a sleek­er, more fin­ished look, mak­ing it stand out on the water.

Convenience

A pon­toon boat hard top can also make your boat more con­ve­nient. The frame pro­vides addi­tion­al stor­age space for items such as life jack­ets, fish­ing gear, and oth­er sup­plies. The hard top also pro­tects your boat from birds and oth­er debris, mak­ing it eas­i­er to keep your boat clean.

How to Select the Right Pontoon Boat Hard Top

The most impor­tant fac­tor to con­sid­er when select­ing a pontoon boat hard top is the size. Make sure that the hard top fits the size of your pontoon boat, and that it is strong enough to hold the weight of the peo­ple and equip­ment that you plan to bring onto the boat. You should make sure that the mate­r­i­al of the hard top is durable and weath­er-resis­tant, as it will be exposed to the ele­ments while you are out on the water. Check to see if the hard top is designed to be com­pat­i­ble with any acces­sories that you may have, such as rod hold­ers and LED lights.

Size

The first thing to con­sid­er when select­ing a pon­toon boat hard top is the size. You want to make sure the hard top you choose is the right size for your boat. It should fit snug­ly and secure­ly onto the deck, with­out leav­ing any gaps or spaces.

Material

The mate­r­i­al you choose for your pon­toon boat hard top is also impor­tant. You can choose from a vari­ety of mate­ri­als, such as steel, alu­minum, or a com­bi­na­tion of both. Steel is strong and durable, but it is also heav­ier and may require more main­te­nance. Alu­minum is lighter and eas­i­er to main­tain, but it is also more expen­sive.

Features

You should also con­sid­er the fea­tures you want in your pon­toon boat hard top. Some hard tops come with addi­tion­al fea­tures, such as built-in stor­age com­part­ments, speak­ers, and lights. If you plan to use your pon­toon boat at night, you may want to choose a hard top with lights.

Price

You should con­sid­er your bud­get when select­ing a pon­toon boat hard top. Hard tops can range in price from a few hun­dred dol­lars to sev­er­al thou­sand, depend­ing on the size and fea­tures. Be sure to shop around and com­pare prices to get the best deal for your needs.

How to Install a Pontoon Boat Hard Top

Installing a pontoon boat hard top is a fair­ly straight­for­ward process, but it’s impor­tant to take your time and ensure that all the parts and pieces are installed cor­rect­ly. Begin by gath­er­ing all the nec­es­sary parts and mate­ri­als includ­ing the hard top frame, mount­ing hard­ware, and any oth­er nec­es­sary items. Lay the hard top frame out on the deck of the pontoon boat and secure it with the mount­ing hard­ware.

Make sure all the mount­ing hard­ware is secure­ly fastened, and then check the place­ment of the frame to make sure it is cen­tered and lev­el. Once the frame is in place, add the roofing mate­r­i­al to the frame, fol­lowed by any addi­tion­al hard­ware like win­dows or lights. Once all the pieces have been added and the frame is secure, the hard top is ready to be enjoyed!

Tools and Supplies

Before you begin installing your pon­toon boat hard top, make sure you have all the nec­es­sary tools and sup­plies. You will need drill bits, screws, bolts, wash­ers, and a wrench. You may also need addi­tion­al tools, such as a ratch­et, a ham­mer, and a screw­driv­er.

Preparing the Boat

Once you have all the nec­es­sary tools and sup­plies, you can begin prepar­ing the boat for instal­la­tion. Start by remov­ing any items that may be in the way, such as fur­ni­ture or oth­er acces­sories. You should also clean the area where you will be installing the hard top and make sure it is dry.

Installing the Frame

You can begin installing the frame of the pon­toon boat hard top. Start by attach­ing the frame to the stern and bow of the boat. Make sure to use the appro­pri­ate screws and bolts, and be sure to tight­en them secure­ly.

Attaching the Cover

Once the frame is in place, you can begin attach­ing the cov­er. Start at the stern and work your way to the bow, mak­ing sure to line up the edges of the cov­er with the frame. Use the screws and bolts to secure the cov­er in place, and be sure to tight­en them secure­ly.

Maintenance and Upkeep

A pon­toon boat hard top will require reg­u­lar main­te­nance and upkeep to keep it in good con­di­tion. You should inspect the hard top peri­od­i­cal­ly for any signs of wear or dam­age, and make sure to keep it clean and free of debris. If you notice any cracks or oth­er issues, you should repair them as soon as pos­si­ble to pre­vent fur­ther dam­age. Addi­tion­al­ly, you should make sure to check the screws and bolts peri­od­i­cal­ly to make sure they are secure.

Safety Tips

In addi­tion to reg­u­lar main­te­nance and upkeep, there are a few safe­ty tips you should keep in mind when using a pon­toon boat hard top. Make sure the hard top is secure­ly attached to the boat, and check the screws and bolts peri­od­i­cal­ly to make sure they are still tight. Keep the hard top clear of any items that could inter­fere with the boat’s per­for­mance, such as fish­ing rods or oth­er large items. Always wear a life jack­et when on the water and be aware of the weath­er con­di­tions.

Advantages of a Pontoon Boat Hard Top

A pon­toon boat hard top is a great addi­tion to any pon­toon boat, offer­ing a vari­ety of ben­e­fits. It pro­vides addi­tion­al pro­tec­tion from the ele­ments, mak­ing your time on the water more com­fort­able and enjoy­able. It also adds a touch of style to your boat, and can pro­vide addi­tion­al stor­age space and con­ve­nience. With the right hard top, you can enjoy your time on the water in com­fort and style.

1. Pro­tec­tion from the ele­ments – pro­vides shade from the sun and shel­ter from rain and wind.
2. Increased pri­va­cy – helps to lim­it the vis­i­bil­i­ty of pas­sen­gers and their belong­ings from onlook­ers.
3. Enhanced stor­age – pro­vide addi­tion­al stor­age space for items such as fish­ing gear, life jack­ets, and oth­er essen­tials.
4. Increased sta­bil­i­ty – adds addi­tion­al weight to the pon­toon boat which helps to reduce rock­ing and oth­er move­ment in chop­py waters.
5. Improved sound sys­tem – can pro­vide a plat­form for mount­ing speak­ers, ampli­fiers and oth­er audio equip­ment.
6. Added style – can add a sleek, mod­ern look to your pon­toon boat.

com­pared to boats with­out a hard top. It pro­vides pro­tec­tion from the ele­ments, such as rain, wind, and sun. This is espe­cial­ly impor­tant if you are out on the water for extend­ed peri­ods of time. The hard top also pro­vides addi­tion­al stor­age space and makes the boat qui­eter, reduc­ing the noise from wind and waves. It increas­es the boat’s sta­bil­i­ty and helps it stay afloat if it takes on water. It also adds an extra lay­er of secu­ri­ty while on the water, as it is more dif­fi­cult to break into than boats with­out one.

FAQs

Conclusion

A pon­toon boat hard top is a great way to add extra pro­tec­tion, com­fort, and style to your boat. It pro­vides addi­tion­al shade and pro­tec­tion from the ele­ments, and can also pro­vide addi­tion­al stor­age space and con­ve­nience. When select­ing a hard top, make sure to con­sid­er size, mate­r­i­al, fea­tures, and price. If You want some­thing else con­sid­er buy­ing playpen cov­er.  Installing a pon­toon boat hard top is a rel­a­tive­ly sim­ple process, but make sure you have all the nec­es­sary tools and sup­plies before you begin. With the right hard top, you can enjoy your time on the water in com­fort and style.