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I called Mills this morning with some questions and here's what I found out.....

They do not use a slide with the model they make for my boat. The main leg fastens to the shirt bowrail section that is actually inside the boat. (I do not have the extended bow rail that goes all around the boat) The straps that hold the top in place fasten to the bowrail sections.

When I asked her about where the top lies when it's folded down, she just said that it lays up near the front. She wasn't very specific about whether or not the folded top would reach all the way to the bow or if it laid on the flat area immediately behind the bow.

At that point I wasn't too impressed with the information I was getting. Then I asked her the price and was quoted a price of about $971. I don't recall the exact price but was surprised by that amount.

Then I called another company that was highly recommended to me...CoversDirect. I had emailed them a couple of weeks ago and asked for some fabric samples. I got an email reply the next day and the samples arrived in just a couple of days. In the email they thanked me for contacting them and offered an additional discount for doing that (the discount was above and beyond what was offered as a Black Friday sale on their website.)

I had found their website was very complete, offering easy drop down menus to find the specific model top I needed.

The lady I spoke with (Shannon) was the same one who had sent me the email and the samples. She was familiar with their products and answered my questions about the top and the use of slides.

To make a long story short, I ordered the top from them along with a slide that is long enough to make sure it will fit, and I can cut it to the proper length.

In the end, I'm getting the top delivered to me for about $380. No, it doesn't have the stainless frame. I'm not sure I need that because I boat on fresh water and live in a desert where humidity is not a problem.

To me, a big reason for going with CoversDirect was the ~$600 difference in price. My Whaler(s) are not my only boat. I have this one....

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x3...302091.jpg

and that $600 will put a lot of diesel in her tanks.

Thanks for all the advice and information. I appreciate all the help you gave me.