Hello All:
I'm considering the addition of a cockpit enclosure/canopy this season.
Does anyone out there have any photos of examples of good designs and what to consider; what to avoid?
Any help would be appreciated.
Steve
visit us at www.ocontoyachtclub.com (http://www.ocontoyachtclub.com)
Steve my full cockpit encloses is free staying. It does not use any of the cockpit stations . We have made screens as well as glass. It connects to the dodger. Charlie
Here are a couple of photos of Tranquility in the rainy Northwest. This bimini and connector (to the dodger) and the side curtains were made by Randy's Boat Tops out of Olympia, Washington. Randy does a nice job and is competitively priced. There are 2 sections on each side and 3 small sections across the stern. All zip off, roll up and stow without too much fuss during the summer months and can be used in any combination. We love the protection during the winter and shoulder months when we pretty much function as a motor boat anyway and the enclosed cockpit allows us to comfortably use the boat all year 'round and that's a good thing! When sailing in bad weather I can leave the forward-most side panels on and still see pretty well . . .and the Admiral and friends stay warm and dry.
Brent:
Looks like you have a sail pack also. How do you like it and was it made by Randy's also?
Mark
Steve: One question our builder asked was " do you want to look over or through the dodger when you dock?" We keep the front wind screen rolled up most of the time so vision is not an issue , but my wife runs the boat in and out of the dock and wanted to look over the dodger. That makes you duck a little to go below. We made a phifertex connector so we can see better but still keep out the direct sun....something to think about.
Phil makes a very good point. If you do a simple search on "dodger height" (include the " marks), the first two results have some other good pictures.
Your boat, your choice.
Steve,
We used "Strataglass" on the front panel of the dodger. It is remarkably clear for good visibility through the dodger. We have had ours for about 8 years now and it still is as good as new, you can't roll it up though ..has to stay flat,and of course avoid scratches.
We have 2 Zippers so that we can lift and suspend the glass under the dodger and put a screen in for those hot days.
I would also recommend the grab handles on the side.
Steve: Another thought. I am only 5'-9 and I do not clear the boom on our boat. So I had a 12" wedge taken out of the main. That took the back of the boom up so it would clear a 6'-1" high bimini. The goose neck was not moved, just bends up a degree or 2.
Think about extending the bimini out the stern about 15" or 18" or more to help keep the driver in the shade when the sun is behind the boat.
ALWAYS put a towel on the window when you roll it up. Plastic against plastic will scratch and shorten the life of your windows.
You will really like sailing in the shade, hope your project goes well.
To answer your question, Mark: I made the sailpack myself from a Sailrite kit. Works well.
Brent
What do you use for a ladder to get on to your swim platform. Engineering a new ladder had kept me from making that upgrade.
Quote from: Footloose on April 10, 2014, 09:39:28 AM
Brent
What do you use for a ladder to get on to your swim platform. Engineering a new ladder had kept me from making that upgrade.
Hi,
This is the one I used on mine last year.
Mount under the platform.
http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1750422902022290203&id=1855125
Brent, you did a nive job on your enclosure
My canvas guy suggested that instead of a full enclosure, do a 3/4. Instead of windows on the back we have sun reflective screening down to the top rail, it is supposed to reflect 90% of the sun. There is so much stuff on my stern.....plastic would soon be scratched. Not quite as warm, but works for the way we use our boat. Ask your canvas guy, they are usually full of great suggestions. It is there job.
I've never had or sailed on a sailboat with a full enclosure.
I'm wondering what the actual sails-up, sailing experience is like?
Wow...this talk and pics of enclosures makes me REALLY love sailing in San Diego! I am "this close" to removing my dodger because it's too confining and ruins my chi and commune with nature! Forget the fact that at least once a day, I bonk my head going down the companionway. I just had a foam pad/patch topped with bright red vinyl sewn on to remind me it's a hazard and to hopefully soften the blow, but with a ball cap on I don't see it before... whamo and "?@"#%!" :cry4`
Hi Steve,
We just had our dodger and bimini replaced last year as part of the cockpit enclosure purchase. The existing dodger and bimini, while old, were still in workable condition, but if we would have had to replace them, then would also have had to replace the walls at that time, since they can't cut bimini/dodger to the walls, but they can the other way around. Either way we also wanted some changes to the frame for the bimini and dodger, so it worked out for us to get it all new.
We had a great season with it. Early and late in the year we were able to stay warmer outside in the cockpit. On those long rainy days we weren't squeeze inside with the kids; more room to move about (almost 30% more room). I still remember a stretch of three raining days on the hook among the 30,000 islands, where we had the back wall up and just watched the rain come down. It didn't keep the mosquitos out as well as I had hoped; there are plenty of little places for those critters to get in, but it would have been worse without it.
All in all it extended our season last year and we pretty happy with it. Let me know if you want to know anything more. I've got more detailed photos as well.
a couple more shots...
Relative to design ideas:
1) Side grab bars are optional but well worth the few extra dollars. Don't know how we did without them before.
2) We added an additional grab bar along the aft section of the dodger, so we wouldn't always be grabbing the canvas by accident to stabilize ourselves in a heel.
3) We had them sew in Velcro along the underside of the dodger (by the frame) and bimini, so we could Velcro LED lights to the underside. Makes it easier getting in and out in the dark and sometimes you want to read later in the evening outside.
4) Screens: We had four of the seven panels outfitted with screens (two forward ones and two outboard aft ones) to help with through breeze on rainy yet buggy days. The central panel in the dodger also comes out and a screen can be fitted into it.
5) Fittings: The makers included snaps so the we could individually roll up each wall panel, or swing the side ones in and back (for easy of getting in and out) Also for the bimini/dodger connector there is a snap to fold it back from the side to make access easier when getting in and out at the dock. The "glass" sections on the panels with screen roll down and tie off so you can have the screen either fully or partially open.
6) Frame: Not really part of the enclosure, but part of how your bimini and dodger are supported; but we had the bimini frame taken off of the deck and supported from railing. This freed up foot space on the deck. We also had them make the frame so that it folds compactly against the backstay so when we want we can close up the bimini and cover it with a canvas boot. We usually sail in stronger weather without the bimini since I don't like extra stuff causing windage.
7) Covers: As with our original dodger, we had covers for the windows made. We have them on whenever we're not at the boat. The hope is that this will extend their life.
The maker also cut slots so that the genoa sheets can pass through to the inside. So far I think we have sailed with the full enclose up only once. I see plenty of people doing it, but I'm probably not use to having the walls "in my way" yet. We did have the height of the frame set to that we sail looking through the dodger. The boom does almost touch it, but we wanted to be able to stand under it without having to double over. If I want to look over top, I stand on the back seat; which works easy enough.
The admiral and I did have a long discussion about colour. She wanted a light colour to prevent over heating and I was happier with the navy blue. In the end I guess I made the convincing argument that while the white kept it cooler in the hot weather it did not help "heat" in the cooler weather. While the blue would heat up on cooler days (assuming sun), if it got hotter, we would just open up the enclosure. The reality is that my argument was basically correct, but in the hot summer sun the dark blue does radiate a reasonable amount of heat. A cold beer should help with that.
Our original dodger had the feature where we could roll up the central window. With the new one the maker convinced us to have a zip down panel, with the option to put a screen in. The reality is that we miss the convenience of just rolling it up and leaving it in place. This I would do differently next time.
When the lines go through forward to the mast the old dodger had a cover flap that directed water downwards. With the new setup there is just a big opening that the lines go through. Here again I would go back to the older setup. It kept both the spray, rain and mosquitoes out. Now we shove an old towel into the space when anchored.
I forgot, the maker as JTs Textiles (http://www.jtstextiles.com/marine/), in Midland. Jari came out to the boat and we worked out the details. I'm a "picky" or a "detailed minded" person, so not every little thing went the way that I wanted, but I'd say they did good work and we happy with the results.
Sorry not to have replied sooner, Dave (Footloose). Here's the collapsible under-mount ladder used on my swim platform. Available from Defender.com