How about some shade on your flats boat?

RNR-Marine has completed its patent application for 3 versions of its Flats-Top for flats boats. We have 3 versions: 2 that mount to the poling platform, and 1 that goes on the console. Each design provides:

• shade for two people seated at the console,
• ability to stand at wheel to sight for fish,
• use of console mounted rod holders,
• stability at high speed (75mph),
• easy removed (pull a couple of quick release pins),
• 316 stainless steel tubing and fittings.

We can't produce all 3, so we need to know what works for you! Please check it out, and take our Flats-Top Survey for a $25 discount coupon (usable anytime in the future) at http://Flats-Top.com

Full video: http://YouTube.Flats-Top.com

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Thanks for looking, Captain Ross
RNR-Marine, Inc.
636G Long Point Road, #39
Charleston, SC 29464
877-T-TOPLESS
Sales@RNR-Marine.com

 

Several people have asked about the price of the Flats-Top, which will range from $500 to $600 (including shipping), depending on model and options.

Thanks, Captain Ross

 

We did some fitting of our 2nd prototype to a Hell's Bay Guide 18, with good feedback.

Looks like we'll have 3 heights (level with the poling platform, +4" & +8") for the poling-platform-mounted Flats-Top.

The console-mounted Flats-Top will be offer in short (60") and tall (76") height and can be shortened from there for custom heights.

Both will be 30" long x 36" wide coverage, and remove in <30 seconds.

 

Here's our prototype platform-mounted Flats-Top on a Hell's Bay Guide 18 ...

Rear and Front Mounts mount through poling platform deck.
Set Screws on Rear Mounts can be replaced with quick-release pins for easy removability.

http://rnr-marine.com/Flats-Top.shtml#Prototype​

It looks like we'll have 2 heights (Short and Tall). This prototype's height is halfway between these 2 heights. The Hell's Bay Guide 18 and Hewes 16 have a fairly low poling platform (33" height on the Guide 18) and will require a Tall Flats-Top. Boats with taller platforms like the Hewes 18 and Action Craft will use a Short Flats-Top (little or no rise built-in).

Please vote in our Flats-Top Survey (http://Flats-Top.com) and get a $25 discount coupon. We really do appreciate your input!

http://Flats-Top.com​

 

We're looking at including SeaDek (http://Seadek.com) material for the top of the poling platform with outrPlatform-Mounted Flats-Top http://Flats-Top.com. What's everyone's experience with SeaDek? It really looks good, several colors and thicknesses (3mm and 5mm), and cushions your feet on the platform.
:
Gordon/Hell's Bay offers a similar pad on their boats - and the owners we've talked to love it - non-skid and "cushiony" ...

 

Egret-18 with http://FLATS-TOP.com ...

 

Its designed to allow you to stand up ... Hewes Redfisher 16 example:


You can also lean against it when standing on the rear, side decks:

 

Thanks Mudd! We like it (and our clients love the shade). Just to be clear, the Flats-Top frame is actually a single piece of 316L surgical stainless steel tubing which is formed with our programmable CNC tube bender. The canvas is top of the line Sunbrella, with a 10-year fabric warranty, and the top mounts under the poling platform with a pair of polished, cast 316 stainless steel brackets and a pair of rail mounts in front that really look nice.

Thanks for looking! This top looks great on Hewes, Action Craft, Hell Bay and Egrets so far ...

 

Mudd,

No offense taken - we really appreciate the input!

We've had many ask for an option to fold it out of the way, or remove it quickly and fold in half to fit in a locker. We actually have a 2nd patent in process for a folding model, but haven't built a prototype as yet. We need to build some prototypes and test them! Many of these boats have so little room under the platform, that it might be tough to come up with something that would fold under there and not have the engine hit it. One option (covered by our patent) is to simply fold it down so its in front of the motor. Does that make sense? Would it work for you?

I know what you mean - many of these platforms are pretty small. We haven't considered make a Flats-Top you could walk on, but its an interesting thought. Not sure we could cantilever it out over the seat/deck, but its worth a look.

• What boat do you have?
  How big is it's platform?
  Do you have a leaning post on there?

We'd love to come up with something sturdy to give you some shade ...

 

Same here - love to see pix of your 2 projects.

1967 Skeeter - was that the 1st "pad" boat? My father's best fishing buddy bought one way back then - it was much faster than our new 1971 Astroglass cathedral hull bass boat with Merc 65 (43mph).