The Top Hat Story.

[Phillip]

Evening All Top Hatters,

At this moment we have almost got the history time line for Top Hats sorted out, BUT.

I need to talk to anyone who, or who knows someone who, that actually brought their Top Hat from Mouldcraft, Baker or Form-it.
I would like to record the experience of that process.

I will be looking soon to organising an online rally to find out how many Top Hats there are today.

Before that, I am trying to find out how many Shoal Draft Mark 2 or 3's are out there.
These are the Top Hats that had the keel reduced by 250mm [10"] and had additional lead put in the keel.
I believe they usually have no 'in keel' water tank.
In particular I'm looking for the one or two that has/had a "folding centreboard", as it was described to me.
I suspect that the centreboards may have been removed by now, so there may only be evidence in the cabin floor or under the keel.

[PS. There are no shoal draft Mark 1's]

Please post here or PM or email me.

Many Thanks to all Top Hatters.

[lukehere]

Hi Philip, I found out yesterday that I have a shoal draft mark 2 tophat! It is up on the slip at endeavour marine in kogarah bay til Monday. Can email some photos if you are interested it still has a built in water tank. Maybe because it is outbboard poweredso more room? I have some history on it but I bought it off gumtree in March. Luke

[Phillip]

Luke,

I have sent you a PM on what I would like. Here also are the dimensions I would like you to check on the cabin floor.
The history would also be interesting.

Cabin floor dimensions

Mk-1-2-or-3a.jpg (213.44 KiB) Viewed 3658 times

[Shaun]

Gday Luke,
Would be great to see a photo of a shoal draft out of the water!, What does the draft measure?, cheers

[Phillip]

The truth is Luke, that Shaun dosn't have an echo sounder and he just wants to go over his old tracks and see how close he has come to running aground!

[lukehere]

I have done some measurments but not the cabin sole yet, the gunnel to keel heel is 190cm at mast alignment and the rudder is roughly 40cm at top 80cm at base and 70cm along pivot shaft and 60 cm trailing edge. It has a water tank with inlet under v berth and outlet into bilge. The interior lining has been removed and I can just stand up with my head touching at mast level inside. I am 173cm tall. When you step down into the yacht there is the top of the bilge then it has a second step of about 75mm down to cabin sole level and then it is even through out. Will try and post some pics when I get them off my phone. She looks so much better with a new waterline and a clean! I bought her off gumtree in march.

[Phillip]

Hi Luke,

Did you measure the draft for Shaun? Thats vertical from your waterline to bottom of keel.

Thinking about it I'm sure Shaun can work out the draft from your info, many thanks.

Looking forward to the photos and the cabin sole dimensions.

Luke, where are you moored?

[lukehere]

draft is 3foot 6" roughly, I am moored in kogarah bay with about 3 or 4 other tophats around. I am wondering if mine was one of the home finished ones as it has a full ply/teak fit-out and only 2 windows but the measurements you gave make it closer to a Mk2 like I was told it was. Has had a laminated ply beam under mast foot as well. back to work . ...