Astonishing Quotes

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Esmerelda

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We have recently bought a Sun Odyssey 40, which came with a decent bimini which we want to be able to convert into a full cockpit enclosure when required by adding sides etc. So far we have asked 3 companies for a quote to do this work. Tecsew were the first to come back and they quoted "from" £2,400 + VAT, but we would have to be in their area. We thought that was pricey until we got the second quote from CJ Marine, who estimate the cost to be £4,000 to £5,000 plus VAT!!! We are waiting for a quote from Dolphin Sails who hopefully will come up with a price we can consider.

In the meantime, can anyone recommend a good company for this sort of work, as google wasn't particularly helpful. We are based in Fambridge on the east coast.

Cheers

Ian
 
I used Jeckells to make my cockpit tent because they were willing to come to the boat and make it to my requirements, not just a catalogue item which the others offered. Jeckells are apparently often down this way so worth a conversation definitely.
 
But don't get your hopes up that you're going to get a complete cockpit on the cheap.

They take a lot of material and a hell of a lot of work (and risk as they're complex and difficult to get 'perfect').
 
MoodySabre said:
I used Jeckells to make my cockpit tent because they were willing to come to the boat and make it to my requirements, not just a catalogue item which the others offered. Jeckells are apparently often down this way so worth a conversation definitely.
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+1. The South Coast rep for Jeckells, Mark, can be reached at 07810 550140. He'll come to the boat and do all the necessary.
 
Just how much are you intending to use it? I bought a Habitent from http://www.habitent.com and it's perfect for what I need. It's pretty lightweight and takes a few minutes to put up (faster now I've sussed it all out and the straps are all the right length) but for the odd rainy night at anchor or in the marina it does the job. Mind you, it's gone up £100 since I bought mine so there're obviously doing alright.....!
 
We used Cover to Cover at Birdham-ask for Robert. He is well worth asking. Very pleased with ours which was less than half other unrealistic quotes.
He modified our frame by welding on extensions-the other quotes insisted on a new frame despite it being good, just a little short for the new mounting position.
 
Use somebody locally who will come and measure, discuss exactly what you want, make and then fit it. As already suggested, this is not an easy or cheap job as each one is custom made so little room for any labour saving mass production. Not surprised at the first quote you got, although that company is at the higher end price wise - but quality and service to match.
 
I had a lot of trouble with Jeckells, not the sailmakers but the cockpit cover/sprayhood branch. An absolute nightmare - he made it so it covered the Eberspacher exhaust and wouldn't correct it! The windows were saggy and I had to pay another company to put it right, the material was good quality but these things are all about the skill of design and workmanship and an ongoing commitment to getting it right. I learned my lesson and used Wilkinson sails for the next boat - top class work and service.
 
Lazy Kipper said:
I had a lot of trouble with Jeckells, not the sailmakers but the cockpit cover/sprayhood branch. An absolute nightmare - he made it so it covered the Eberspacher exhaust and wouldn't correct it! The windows were saggy and I had to pay another company to put it right, the material was good quality but these things are all about the skill of design and workmanship and an ongoing commitment to getting it right. I learned my lesson and used Wilkinson sails for the next boat - top class work and service.
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I've known that happen with Jeckells...... it almost landed in court due to poor workmanship and refusal to correct defects.
 
Triassic said:
Just how much are you intending to use it? I bought a Habitent from http://www.habitent.com and it's perfect for what I need. It's pretty lightweight and takes a few minutes to put up (faster now I've sussed it all out and the straps are all the right length) but for the odd rainy night at anchor or in the marina it does the job. Mind you, it's gone up £100 since I bought mine so there're obviously doing alright.....!
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We are part time liveaboards. Our full enclosure has transformed our comfort alongside or on the hook. We use it all the time. The roof only keeps the sun off and the sides-which have plenty of clear panels-keep the wind out.

First Mate calls it the Conservatory......................
 
goliath said:
We have recently bought a Sun Odyssey 40, which came with a decent bimini which we want to be able to convert into a full cockpit enclosure when required by adding sides etc. So far we have asked 3 companies for a quote to do this work. Tecsew were the first to come back and they quoted "from" £2,400 + VAT, but we would have to be in their area. We thought that was pricey until we got the second quote from CJ Marine, who estimate the cost to be £4,000 to £5,000 plus VAT!!! We are waiting for a quote from Dolphin Sails who hopefully will come up with a price we can consider.

In the meantime, can anyone recommend a good company for this sort of work, as google wasn't particularly helpful. We are based in Fambridge on the east coast.

Cheers

Ian
Click to expand...
GBP 2.4k seems about right. full enclosures are not easy to make, they have to look good, withstand Gales and are very complex. You will get what you pay for here.
 
We also have a 'conservatory'. It's a bimini with zip on sides, back and front bit (between spray hood and bimini).

Can highly recommend Southern Sails in Poole if you're anywhere near there http://www.southern-sails.co.uk/

We had all our canvas work done by Jerry from Southern 6 years ago and people still ask us where we had it done!
 
Thanks everyone for the replies - we have contacted a couple of the local suggestions and await their quotes.

Our previous boat came with a cockpit enclosure and now we wouldn't be without one. As others have said, we use it all the time and our two young children were gutted when they realised that the bimini wasn't a full enclosure...
 
Unfortunately this is one thing where you get what you pay for.

I asked the advice of the charter company I had the boat chartered with and they said if I want one to fit,work and avoid problems go to TecSew. I did and they modified my existing Bimini hood to become a cockpit enclosure. They also replaced my old spray hood. When the boat was new the distributor cut corners to do everything as cheap as possible including deleting many factory fit items I was therefore surprised that they used TecSew for the original spray hood. I assume they had experience of cheaper ones. After my boat they also had experience of cheap fitted bow thrusters when I insisted a quality firm did the 3rd attempt to stop the leaks - but that's another story!

The new cockpit enclosure fitted straight away. It was also easy to erect.

If you look at TecSews website they will probably have examples of ones they have made for your exact model of boat. With experience of making so many they know what works best.

I had mine up for the 2014 Cherbourg Scuttlebutt pontoon gathering ( it's usually 30-40 people on/around my Jeanneau!) and all were impressed. I have recently seen other boats at Poole get cockpit tents fitted by cheap suppliers. Frequent visits and a almost trial and error approach.

Last point - all canvas covers etc shrink when dry and with age. If you don't get the original fit to allow for this erecting it will become a gradually increasing problem.
 
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