Are you in the market for a center console boat? Wondering if you should purchase one with a T-top or are you looking into installing one on your current boat? We receive questions about T-tops on a regular basis and we’re here to share our 30+ years of experience so you can make the most informed choice possible regarding T-tops that’s best suited to your lifestyle. 

What is a T-top?

Originally the main purpose of having a center console boat was to allow freedom of movement around the boat when fighting fish and to maximize fishing area. Center consoles are now versatile boats that are used for a variety of purposes. T-tops are made to fit the design of center consoles and are mounted in the vicinity of the helm and are shaped like a ‘T’ when you look at the boat from the side. 

The ‘T’ shape is so you’re easily able to make your way around the boat without the supports of the T-top getting in the way. If the supports were mounted on the gunnels like the boats of yesteryear, they’d get in the way while trying to move around the boat. T-tops provide shade and shelter from the elements as well as mounting surface area for accessories and options.

Pros + Cons of Having a T-Top on Your Center Console

Pros of having a T-top on your boat include:

• Provides shade + shelter

• Provides more space for accessories such as lights, outriggers, radio antennas, thermal cameras, storage, etc.

• T-tops increase the height of your VHF antenna, resulting in a significantly bigger ranger

• Provides the potential to create a second station which increases visibility and can be especially great for fishing

• Can increase your ability to spend more time on the water

Cons of having a T-top on your boat include:

• T-tops can limit how/where you can fish on your boat if you are fly fishing or doing another type of fishing that involves lots of casting/artificial baits. (This is especially true if there are multiple anglers on the boat and for areas with low clearance.)

• Decreases your top speed and fuel economy

• Additional cost

• Additional maintenance

• Cover is more expensive due to the shape of the boat with a T-top

Maintenance + Cost 

No matter if you opt for a hard T-top or a soft T-top (link to hard top or soft top article), both will require maintenance such as waxing and checking for cracks in the aluminum supports.

Hard T-tops: Require more maintenance because they involve more waxing and making sure all mounting bolts and screws are tight. (We recommend waxing your hard top at least twice a year.)

Soft T-tops: Also require waxing to prevent sun damage or applying PTFE waterproofing, depending on the type of material you use. If you see any threads coming undone you may have to apply superglue and every few years you may have to tighten your soft T-Top and potentially replace the canvas every 5-15 years. 

The average price to add a hard T-Top is approximately $8,000 versus a soft t-top which is $5,000: 

• It’s about 63% more expensive to go from a soft top to a hard top

  • These price ranges reflect the industry average

    • Due to the popularity of hard tops, soft tops are becoming increasingly rare

Availability, Longevity + Resale Value

Most boat manufacturers offer Hard T-tops due to their increasing popularity, more so than soft T-tops. Some boat manufacturers offer both hard and soft T-tops but they are few and far between.

Both hard and soft T-Tops can help protect your boat from oxidation or sun damage but do require more maintenance than a boat without a top. Covers made to fit T-top boats are also more expensive. Overall, due to the material, it’s made up of and its overall design, the hard T-Top is more durable and will potentially last as long as you own your boat versus a soft T-top which may have to be placed every 5-15 years. (Just the canvas sections.)

Adding a T-top to your boat can affect your resale value, overall we’d say the addition of a T-Top would potentially increase the resale value of your boat, especially in this particular area.

Summary

EXPERIENCE WITH TOP:

A family member of ours had a Blue Wave 2000 Purebay and felt it getting too hot in the Gulf for his taste. He decided to put an aftermarket soft T-top on his Blue Wave and now finds himself fishing more frequently. They’ve had the same T-top on their center console for 10 years now.

EXPERIENCE WITHOUT TOP:

A friend of an employee is a big saltwater fly fisherman and enjoys fishing for tarpon, redfish, and mahi-mahi. The T-top on their 21’ Blue Wave was constantly getting in their way so they decided to get their next boat without a top, which was a center console Maverick HPX.

Ultimately, the decision is based on how you use your boat, where you take it, as well as your preferences and if the cost, is worth it. T-Tops can protect you from the elements, and can provide more storage and space for accessories but will require more maintenance, will cost $5,000-8,000 to install, and affect your speed and fuel economy.

We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about T-Tops, feel free to call or stop by either location and see our current inventory, which includes boats with and without T-Tops:

• Day Break Marine Pensacola

  • 850-434-9022

  • 811 S R Street, Pensacola, FL

• Day Break Marine Stapleton

  • 251-937-1390

  • 34600 AL-59, Stapleton, AL