How sturdy is the roof on a cruiser?

R

rock knocker

New member
We are looking at a 1993 cruiser 22 Saturday. How sturdy is the roof for kids jumping off it? My daughter mentioned it tonight and thought I'd ask. Thanks in advance.
 
Im a big dude and jump off the roof, there's no flex or anything. Also have had over 200 lbs of shrimp pots stacked up there, before I realized its a bad idea to be that top heavy while underway :shock:

The 22 cruiser is sturdy up there, I'm not sure about the other models
 
We added a 90 lb AC system on our roof of a 23 venture Cape cruiser and no problem (Roof is 7/8 thick balsa core and fiberglass)
WE stood on the roof to get into the boat when tide was so low at a fixed dock in Bradenton Fl.
 
Boats have been different thru the years. My first 25 (2003) had thin fiberglass in the center--and it flexed when I stood on it (180#) current 25 (2007) has a cored center roof, and it is solid.

If jumping up and down on the roof--probably not a good idea. The roof is not engineered for that sort of load. If they climb up, and jump off--probably OK, from the structural (if yours is cored). The side parts of the roof may be solid glass in some, cored in others.

The roof is slippery (especially when well waxed). " Woody Wax" is probably the best for the deck, since it tends to be a bit less slippery.
 
On our 2003 the cabin top extends past the sides, that little overhang is full of gellcoat cracks from someone putting weight on them in the past. Adding to the problem is that because that is where two colors meet there is an area where in production two coats were overlapped and thick gellcoat is very brittle and can't be flexed. The laminate may still be OK but the appearance is bad and very difficult to do a proper repair.
 
My 08 roof is solid FG. It'll take 3/8" screws without them going through. I have no problem standing on my roof. Kids jumping wouldn't be a problem IMO. I might not have them bouncing off the brow though.
 
According to Bob the later roofs are balsa cored, which means that all though the roofs are very stiff the actual laminate is still relatively thin. Any screws need to have an epoxy plug to keep water out of the balsa core if that is the case.
 
I have had 1/4" long small screws go thru the roof on my first 22. Had a 3/8" screw go thru the solid laminate in the pillar between side and front widows in my Tom Cat. You Never know...
 
Back
Top