tophatyachts.com

Hi all,
Does anyone have a photo of the interior of a Top Hat (preferably a Mark111),showing the area beneath the cockpit? I am interested in replacing my water bladder with a fixed fibreglass tank, and would like to see how such a tank could be securely attached around the same site as the water bladder. I would normally just go out to my Toppie, but the weather and Covid situation has meant that I am remaining close to home at the present.
Thanks,
Kevin (KJD13),
Wayward Lady, a Mk111,
Williamstown, Vic

Hi Kevin,
My Mk III has the water tank under the sole, the take off spigot is in the engine bay, directly under the stair well.
Hope this helps you find yours.
Cheers

Thanks Andrew, I know that on my Toppie, the flexible water bladder is located below the cockpit, with the water filler point located on the starboard rear quarter of the cockpit. What I don't know is if there is sufficient room to span the area between the two cockpit supports, and above the drive shaft to support the fibreglass tank. Below the sole on my Toppie, the original owner filled this with concrete, I presume to give it greater ballast - but it greatly reduces the storage space available in this area.
Thanks for your input.
Kevin (KJD13)
Wayward Lady, a Mk111,
Williamstown, Vic

Kevin,
I may have asked this before.

what is your measured draft?

With a fixed water tank above the drive shaft, it sounds very difficult to inspect and maintain the stern gland?

Phillip,
I believe it is 120 cm.
On another issue, I was looking at the posting under "Top Hat Sail numbers". Where did these numbers come from? Were they the production numbers when the yachts left Formit? How do I find out the sail number of the Wayward Lady?
Thanks,
Kevin (KJD13)
Wayward Lady, a Mk111,
Williamstown, Vic

Kevin,

Sail numbers are issued by the AYF, or whatever they call themselves now, for those who race!

There are 95 Top Hats that have been identified as having been issued with a sail number.

Wayward Lady is not among them, unless she raced under another name.

I believe some clubs also issue sail numbers and those, from what I've seen, have a capital letter or two in the number.

AYF numbers are numbers only. I think I've got that all correct, I who do not race or belong to a racing club.

As far as the draft, I wondered if WWL was a shallow draft Top Hat. It's not, as you would have said a 1m draft.

The design draft for Top Hats is 1.3m

Thanks for the info Phillip
Kevin (KJD 13).
Wayward Lady. a MK 111
Williamstown, Vic

Hi all,
Well I got to Williamstown yesterday and had a chance to look at the location myself. The good news is that a tank in the site of the existing flexible water tank would not impact on access to the stern gland, as the shaft exits the boat closer to the engine. The bad news is that beneath the tank is the exhaust pipe, so it would not be feasible to place the fibreglass tank here.
Thanks for all of your input.
Kevin (KJD13),
Wayward Lady, a Mk111,
Williamstown, Vic