Canopy

[Bigplumbs]

Because I am getting no where fast in my quest for a second boat. One I could use if the weather were to go off a little. I now have another idea. Get a canopy for my 17ft Fletcher bow rider that would be able to be put up if it came on to rain or got cold. I would like it to be able to be pitched back like a bimi and folded away when the weather is good. I have searched the web a bit but don't seem to find any suitable places that make these for the smaller boat.

Have you chaps got any bright ideas

Thanks in advance

Dennis

[annageek]

I doubt you'd get an off the shelf cover to meet your needs. It will have to be something bespoke. Unless you DIY, it'll be very expensive.

One other thing - although our boat had a proper camper cover, it'd be virtually impossible to keep it up whilst on the move. Where the clear PVC section is rolled/folded up, it distorts your vision too much. It's be like trying to drive the boat looking through bathroom window type frosted glass! I'm sure it's not a problem on the bigger boats with taller windscreens, where you can still see through he windscreen.

That said, you can get off the shelf biminis that would probably fit. In fact, I found this picture of one on a 17' Fletcher:



With a bit of modification of the bimini part (addition of bungee toggles and/or press studs) this may provide a good basis to make a 'front' and 'sides' that would attach to produce a sort of camper cover. It wouldn't be perfect, but should be functional and would be cheaper than having a pro job done. You could try and do a pro -standard job yourself (proper covered zips and darts all over the place to get around all the 3D corners), but prepare to tear your hair out! I know my way around a sewing machine really well, and decent marine canvas (e.g. Sunbrella) works really nicely on any half decent sewing machine, but the sheer size/bulk of material that you have to handle whilst sewing makes it really hard. I ended up modifying our dining table so that I could integrate my machine into it to make a really large machine table. Even then, it wasn't easy.

One other thought, as well, if you would only use the front and side bits when the weather was a bit off, then you may be able to get away with PU coated nylon (not UV stable) which is SO much cheaper than proper, marine grade, UV stable acrylic canvas like sunbrella (£20/meter). This way, any mistakes you make will be a bit more bearable!

[Bigplumbs]

Thanks Anna an interesting post. The pic attached is the sort of thing I am after and I might have found a sail maker near me that will make one hopefully for about £1000 ish. If I can get it for this sort of money I would be happy to pay. If I give it to them as a winter job that also helps.

As I have said several times nothing in boating seems cheap or easy lol

Dennis

[annageek]

£1k is a good price (in boating terms). Would that include the bimini frame, or would you do that yourself / pay extra for that?


It's a good idea though. Even if it is say £1500 but you get to spend extra time on the boat, then it's a very cost effective way of increasing time on the water.

[mlines]

We had this bimini made for £850, it was with stainless steel tube and fittings.



More pictures here

http://www.sportsboat.org.uk/index.php/ ... bimini-top

I have still got this top in the garage if you are interested in adapting it. (Note also the zip so the driver can stick his head out, driving with it fully closed is not really feasible)

[_Ed_]

I would have thought its here that the USA boats have a much easier time. They can usually get stuff off the shelf.

Quite how these things can be as expensive (in the UK) as they appear to be really blows my mind!!

[Xboatboyx]

I would have thought its here that the USA boats have a much easier time. They can usually get stuff off the shelf.

Quite how these things can be as expensive (in the UK) as they appear to be really blows my mind!!

We looked into this and its still cheaper to get covers made in the UK. Whilst the product may be cheap its the postage from the states that bumps up the price, unless of course you can find a dealer bringing a boat over so you can store it inside.

[betty boop]

I would have thought its here that the USA boats have a much easier time. They can usually get stuff off the shelf.

Quite how these things can be as expensive (in the UK) as they appear to be really blows my mind!!

We looked into this and its still cheaper to get covers made in the UK. Whilst the product may be cheap its the postage from the states that bumps up the price, unless of course you can find a dealer bringing a boat over so you can store it inside.

Thought it would deb viable with a cheap round trip to the US on a friendly airline or get a passing crew member to pick it up ?