Thanks for the input. What I think I'll do is mount brackets on the side of the top after reinforcing inside and out (any problem with epoxy over polyester resin?), support under the bar with foam - noodles should work perfectly - to further displace weight (my bus is a '77 and the top seems somewhat brittle), then run straps over the top to secure the boats and pop-top to the bus. These will also keep me from trying to raise it with the boats up there.

Thanks again

David