Guidance on Buying a Topper
The good news is: if you buy at the right price you will usually be able to sell your Topper for a similar amount in a couple of year’s time.

The Topper is one of the most popular second hand buys in the dinghy market. Race quality boats are sought after items.

Use the Classifieds section of this website or check out the back pages of Yachts and Yachting and the ads in the Dinghy Magazine and their websites. Sailing club notice-boards are also a good hunting ground. Word of mouth is a valuable route to finding a good boat too. Or try your local Topper dealer.

The Topper dinghy is one of the simplest performance dinghies available and there is not much that can go wrong.

If you plan to race it you need to check that you have a hull that has not been distorted: it should have been stored correctly with the deck facing down.

An air tight hull should hiss when you remove the bung after sailing.

Look at the mast foot cup: if it has gone, the mast can go through the deck moulding.

Check out the state of the transom plate: if this comes adrift it is quite difficult to get at the bolts inside. Hatches are not allowed under Class Rules.

As Jeremy Evans says in Yachts and Yachting "In most other respects, the Topper is near bullet proof."

Scratching of the Topper hull does occur. Deep scratches can be removed with ‘wet and dry’ glass paper. More minor damage can be rectified by cleaning with a bathroom cleaner and a plastic scouring pad.

The decks do fade with time and some colours are more prone to this than others. Yellow is probably the worst. Old grey boats can become ‘chalky’. It is possible to re-melt the surface of the plastic by heating with a hot air gun. This will cure all but the worst fading but requires great care!

Purple and dark pink decks show white ‘bruises’ when bashed and some of these will also come out with careful use of heat, as will any deformation of the hull caused by poor storage.

Most problems can be resolved in a straight forward manner – even welding the hulls and decks is no problem for an expert. Contact your local Topper dealer. Further related guidance can be found under ‘Upkeep'. A little time spent maintaining your boat will bring a lot of rewards.

Buying a New Topper
here are certain advantages to buying a new Topper when you join the Topper Class. Obviously you will want to examine these advantages, the cost and the methods of buying a new Topper before making a buying decision.

One of the key advantages is the fact that new boats include all the latest gear. For example a new race rigged Topper includes the new Mainsail design, the new centre mainsheet system from Ronstan, the new hull foam block design to maintain hull profile, the new improvements to the mastgate area of the deck mould, the new lower mast design with new webbing kicker strap, the new boom design with the new webbing kicker strap, and the new long tiller extension (975mm). Buying a new Topper also obviates the need to buy a new sail for an older boat.

Topper International Ltd often have special offers which may be attractive and offers interest free credit which reduces the initial outlay and spreads the payments.

For the latest deals visit www.toppersailboats.com

If you are interested in purchasing a new Topper please contact:

Topper International Ltd
Kingsnorth Technology Park
Wotton Road
Ashford
Kent
TN23 6LN

Tel: 01233 629181
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.toppersailboats.com

Guidance on Selling a Topper
If you are selling either a Topper or Topper related gear you may be contacted by individuals who are acting fraudulently. It is strongly recommended that you establish that any enquiry received is genuine before disclosing any personal details.

Signs to watch for:

  - Individuals that only correspond by email

  - Individuals that offer to buy solely on the basis of photographs

The following is a typical example of an initial fraudulent enquiry:
Just saw your advert and i want you to get back to me with these details:

  - Exact Price
  - Condition
  - Send Picture

I will be expectin your mail as soon as possible but iwont be able to get back to you until i leave workok.

Cheers


Stolen Toppers
Please be aware that the following Toppers have been reported as stolen to ITCA(GBR):

  - 45019

  - 45414

Should you have any information that could help in returning any Topper to its rightful owner would you please contact the ITCA(GBR) class association secretary.