TheSamba.com :: View topic - Pop-top boat

Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:00 am

What the heck am I seeing here?

Almost looks like a hightop sitting on top of a poptop........but what the heck is the red on the back? Someone hack up a van to make an extension or something?

Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:13 am

Sir Sam wrote: What the heck am I seeing here?

Almost looks like a hightop sitting on top of a poptop........but what the heck is the red on the back? Someone hack up a van to make an extension or something?

Looks like a "yes" to all of your questions. looks like a high top on top of a westy pop top, and the rear portion of a panel van stuck on the back.

In a word- Weird.

Not my cup of tea, but would love to see the inside.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 9:45 am

I'm betting that the pic was taken at a vw "swap meet" or something similar. I think that the top has either just been purchased and is about to be strapped on and taken home to replace the current westy top, or it is for sale and is ready to be moved to the top of another vehicle.
In any case, the multiple perforations in the top above the gutter line indicates that the top was attached with mechanical fasteners through into the vehicle - we avoid this type of attachment - and the potential for leaking that comes with it.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 10:27 am

That looks like a boat top! If you look closely there a line under the row of fasteners were the outer shell lifts of and can be used as a boat. I think there is an inner top to so the van is still a hightop with the boat off. I've only seen one picture of it before, a van for sale on the net a few years ago. That one also had a mounting plate for a small outboard!

Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:40 am

It looks like that van is crapping out another van.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:47 am

So this person elongated the back end? Are you sure it is not another van's rear end? It's a funny looking boat with not a nice transom. I'm thinking it is being carried to or from someplace for another van?

I'd be wanting my rear end the same color as the rest BUT perhaps this person wanted the extension to be obvious.

What's on top certainly does look like it is out of a mold tho. Not hand laid up. hmmmmm

Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:53 am

yeah, it looks like the boat top sits on top of a westy poptop, with some kind of white wood board supporting it on the rain gutters.

I agree, the boat is probably not a very good one, but after all it's also a hightop so i wouldn't expect it to.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 11:58 am

Simba'sWestyWings wrote: Are you sure it is not another van's rear end?

Unless someone shortened a van by taking out the vent section, its some kinda add on.

I'm also starting to agree on the boat top, see how behind the luggage rack the sides have some kinda support? Also, if you look at the very front of the "boat" you can see a dirt stain.....like that boat spends a lot of its time up there.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:11 pm

Hello

Top/Boat: http://www.vwpix.org/T3/Prospekte/deutschland/reisemobile/Varius/1986_00_Varius/index.html

rear end: http://www.vwpix.org/T3/Prospekte/deutschland/reis...index.html

Sorry its in German, but pictures say more than words :wink:
Hope Boltze don't mind me posting his stuff.

Michael

Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:23 pm

What the Heckverlaengerung. :o

Mon Feb 08, 2010 1:33 pm

This looks like the right one!

Now that i know the name I can google!

Edit: have a look here (German page via google translator): http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&pre...&tl=en

Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:00 pm

Wow! That is a breathtakingly bad example of nautical engineering! There doesn't seem to be any kind of centerboard or daggerboard so I'm guessing that this would be a unique sailing experience to say the least. I love that pic of the two guys sailing it - I think the photo was taken 3 seconds before the boat flipped on its transom. Girl in bikini looks nice, though. :lol:

Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:24 pm

I stand by my previous assessment:

Weird.

Kind of awesome in concept though.

Mon Feb 08, 2010 3:34 pm

Actually along the lines only longer of an Optimist and around the size and chines of a sobat. Looking at the aft forward picture at the keel probably a leeboard and/or outrigger rudder.

Tue Feb 09, 2010 11:21 am

You folks are right - it sure looks as if it is a boat top. The logic of it all escapes me however. I just can't see the advantage of taking the top of your van, using it as a boat and leaving a large opening in the roof of your van - well maybe the van had a sunroof.
If I want to carry a boat for use such as that - fishing etc. - I'll be strapping my Folbot (collapsible folding boat) to the side or top of the hightop and enjoying the protection that the top gives me from the elements - its almost always cold and miserable when the fishing is great.