Buying cockpit canopy from Denmark re VAT and import duty

Spirit (of Glenans) said:
The OP has an existing canopy which could be used as a pattern by a UK sailmaker, so getting it right first time should not be difficult for the right craftsman. All then depends on using the right material.
Since the advent of the twin curses of Brexit and Covid the entirety of Western Europe is going " Let's buy local"!
Click to expand...

Not many sprayhood makers will use an old one as a pattern. I have asked three (to save the hassle of measuring) and they have all refused - bad experiences in the past.

Edited ps: For years I have had to put up with high delivery costs in NI from GB. You just have to accept it or arrange for it to be delivered to a GB address and then picked up at lower cost. Delivery can be £50 - e.g. a solar panel of a special size I wanted which would have been sent free to 'mainland addresses' excluding, of course, the highlands and islands. So not much sympathy from me, I'm afraid.
 
Tranona said:
There has been no price comparison. The only price known so far is the 2019 price from Denmark adjusted for today's exchange rate with a guestimate allowance for new extra costs. The view that the OE product is automatically superior (or that local supplier is inferior) is just not sustainable. In fact the opposite in my experience. The OE canvas work offered by at least 3 boat builders I looked at when buying my boat is very poor quality and in fact just about every dealer for European production builders has canvas work made in the UK for new boats. However not necessarily true of Scandinavian builders and I expect the LM cover to be very high quality. The reality is though, that a good UK supplier could make an equally high quality product at probably a lower cost because the biggest cost is labour. Might be less hassle too.
Click to expand...

The original supplied from new sprayhood on my Dragonfly was from Schultz. When I came to replace it I got one locally made, which fitted fine, including mating to the original Schultz cockpit tent. The locally produced one was cheaper than the replacement Schultz one, and was better in these respects:

1) The Schultz one had sewn tunnels for the poles to go through. Because of this the pole hinges had to be dismantled and the poles removed from the hull to remove the sprayhood as the poles had to be slid out from their tunnels. The replacement has zipped pole tunnels so the poles could be left in place on the hull when the fabric part is removed.

2) The Schultz sprayhood had raw edges to the fabric in places (not turned over and sewn) which in time frayed and looked tatty. That was just sloppy sewing.

3) The replacement has tensioners on the rear edges which the Shultz one lacked so they flapped in a breeze.

4) The replacement has proper edging braid whereas the Schultz had used hand cut strips of PVC coated fabric which looked less neat.

The Schultz one was adequate, but the replacement is better designed and made, and cost less. The moral of the story is: if it's a trimaran or bacon, Danish is best. Anything else (especially mouldy blue cheese), other countries' suppliers are as good or better. I'd prefer gorgonzola any day.
 
Last edited:
That is very interesting. Just shows that not all canvas designers and workers are equal. I have had work done by two local firms, Kemps for cockpit cover, stack pack and winter overall cover and Tec Sew for spray hood, binnacle cover and cockpit tonneau cover. All excellent and what I like is working with them to get exactly what I wanted in terms of material and features.
 
Tranona said:
All excellent and what I like is working with them to get exactly what I wanted in terms of material and features.
Click to expand...

You can get almost anything a purchaser might want from Schultz. They offer an impressive range of options - e.g. windows or no, side & rear openings or no, curtains for the windows, canopy thermal lining so that the cockpit berths can be used for sleeping, etc., etc. There are material options, canvas or PVC, and a very wide range of colours and colour combinations. Replacement frames and frame parts in different finishes, etc. I have little doubt they could accommodate any custom requirements.

I've no skin in the game. I have no connection with Schultz except as a customer, but was very satisfied with the fit, quality and finish of three covers I bought from them (a cockpit canopy, a cockpit 'tonneau' type cover, and a butterfly hatch cover), and their attentive service. From the serial number of the old canopy that I was replacing (still usable, but on its last legs and not worth repairing) they were able to establish that it had been made 26 years earlier, which seems an impressive lifespan to me. That said, I don't mind whether the OP gets his replacement from Schultz or a local supplier.
 
Jcorstorphine said:
You are right about Denmark being expensive but the company Shultz in Denmark made all the canopies for the LM range of motorsailors and still have the have the original jigs. All of the LM owners who have purchased new canopies from them have commented that they fit first time plus they tend to keep standard colours in stock. I dread having to buy any serious pares for my Danish Bukh 36 HP engine or its Saildrive. :(
Click to expand...

Buying from the OEM sprayhood manufacturer is a good decision. You know it will fit perfectly and look like the original. When I had my old HR352 I bought a replacement sprayhood from Hallberg-Rassy parts, made by the OEM supplier, and it was excellent. Sure, you could get someone local to make one, but it'd be hassle and it might not meet your standards. An OEM sprayhood is the way to go.
 
pvb said:
Buying from the OEM sprayhood manufacturer is a good decision. You know it will fit perfectly and look like the original. When I had my old HR352 I bought a replacement sprayhood from Hallberg-Rassy parts, made by the OEM supplier, and it was excellent. Sure, you could get someone local to make one, but it'd be hassle and it might not meet your standards. An OEM sprayhood is the way to go.
Click to expand...
But he is not looking for a sprayhood but a cockpit cover. Even then there is no reason why a local supplier cannot make a replacement sprayhood for an existing frame if he measures it properly. They do it all the time. It is all a question of choice and the perceived value for money.

BTW of course the dealers make a markup on the locally sourced canvas work, just as they make a profit on factory fit items. However have you seen the quality of the Bavaria, Jeanneau, Hanse, Beneteau etc factory supplied items? The dealer will of course order them for you, but once you see the poor value they offer you might change your mind. Pity sails are not on the options list and you are forced to take their poor standard offerings or pay a hefty premium for the higher spec options..
 
magicol said:
I bought a canopy from a reputable sailmaker in Scotland two years ago. They provided a personal service, were careful to match the fabric, installed it on the boat and gave excellent aftercare. Their quality was, I believe, much better than the original manufacturer. Before going abroad, why not at least consult a local company?
Click to expand...
Can I ask who as I'm struggling to find someone.
 
gyislander said:
I'm on the Isle of Bute, Saturn Sails were suggested but haven't answered Email, will phone them tomorrow.
Click to expand...

I was in touch and got an email the next day (yesterday). But they add a travel cost to the quotation, so pretty sure I am going more local.
 
Yes location is the problem as main makers are down south. I thought that if I sent the old canopy they'd be able to use as a template but they all say no they need the boat.
 
gyislander said:
I'm on the Isle of Bute, Saturn Sails were suggested but haven't answered Email, will phone them tomorrow.
Click to expand...
I don't think you'll find anyone closer. It's a short sail from Bute, though. They're not good at email, like a lot of boaty businesses! I'd ring them.

They made my sprayhood in 2007, and I'm just about to replace it. 14 years isn't bad!
 
Why not make s day visit to Largs for measurement and a second day visit for fitting. Even allowing for Largs marina day visit berth, that has to be cheaper than sailmaker going to Bute.
 
Jcorstorphine said:
Why not make s day visit to Largs for measurement and a second day visit for fitting. Even allowing for Largs marina day visit berth, that has to be cheaper than sailmaker going to Bute.
Click to expand...
I did the same when having new electronics fitted - rather than paying travelling costs, I took my boat to the marina where @PaulRainbow is based. Marina charges were much cheaper than travelling costs!
 
gyislander said:
Yes location is the problem as main makers are down south. I thought that if I sent the old canopy they'd be able to use as a template but they all say no they need the boat.
Click to expand...

If you are in Bute then its very simple matter to nip over to Lagrs to get Greg at Saturn to measure it up. You can go back when its ready and they'll fit it there. If you were based out on the Western Isles the I'd see your problem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top