Hardtop Cracking pretty good on both sides

[gulfstream232s]

2005 232 Gulfstream. Crzcks been there for many years, but appear to be getting worse. I drilled them out to hopefully prevent/slow down further dsmage.

So I got an estimate on getting this repaired from the Marina, which I fully expected to be expensive. They claim it should be hauled out in order to better protect the surrounding areas and reduce the chance of a fire. Makes sense, but doubt its needed.
They said they would haul and re-launch for free, but nothing is ever free. Quoted $1100 to reweld/add support.
Curious if these tubes would have any wiring in them? Thanks for any advice.

 

[Mustang65fbk]

I've got a 2004 Grady White 228 Seafarer with the hardtop and based off of memory, as well as looking at a few pictures of my boat, I'm about 99% positive that the wiring for both the upper electronics boxes, the rear speakers as well as the spreader lights all go through the aluminum tubing for the hardtop. Could you add something like JB Weld or similar to the boat for the season, then do more of a long term solution over the wintertime? That way the boat isn't out of service for a couple weeks, a month, or however long it takes them to get to your boat.

 

[Hookup1]

Two cracked rear tower legs? That's odd. Is the hardtop damage from a bridge accident or something else?

I did take my tower off the boat a few years ago to refinish the hardtop and tower.

Not my area of expertise (welding) but it's not clear to me why they don't re-weld them in place. I think it's a good idea to get the boat out of your slip to do the welding. Maybe to a work slip/dock. I would seriously have someone other than the marina do the welding. The pro welding work is art! If it were in Cape May there are at least two shops that build towers for a living from scratch. The hard part will be getting them scheduled for a small job although these guy slow down in season.



As far as wires go not all tower legs have wires in them. Depends on the boat model and how your electronics connect to the hardtop. On my 268 Islander there is a 1/2" bundle of wires next to the helm seat on starboard side that runs up the rear tower leg. It pops out at the bend and goes back in - and then forward - pops out and connects to the overhead electronics box. That same rear leg has a pair of wires that run across the rear tower to power the spreader lights. Nothing in the other 3 tower legs. The wires were not that difficult to remove/replace with the tower in place on the boat.

You should have enough access under carpet or headliner to get to the backing bolts for each leg and see if there are wires in them.