Canvas cover companies

boatmike

boatmike

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Further to my last post regarding a cockpit cover for my Aquastar 33, I want to get three quotes from companies in the Portsmouth/Gosport area for a fairly large roof with zipped in sides. I want a quality job done, so price is not the only consideration, so can anyone recommend companies that have done a good job for them in this area recently please? "Comfort Afloat" actually operate from the yard I am in presently so they will be one, but some have said there are others about that can do a better job..... Any thoughts? When I have 3 quotes I can judge if it's worth buying material and doing it myself but frankly I am better with a spanner than a needle and thread.....
 
Ok I'll start. C&J Marine (www.cjmarine.co.uk) did a flybridge cover and a complete aft closure for a sailboat for me over the last few years. They are not the cheapest, but they are reliable and the quality seems reasonable. I know they are not in Prtsmouth, but pretty sure they cover it - so to speak!
 
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Ripster said:
Ok I'll start. C&J Marine (www.cjmarine.co.uk) did a flybridge cover and a complete aft closure for a sailboat for me over the last few years. They are not the cheapest, but they are reliable and the quality seems reasonable. I know they are not in Prtsmouth, but pretty sure they cover it - so to speak!
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+1 for C&J Marine. I have owned and used for the past five years a large cockpit tent made by them. it is a complicated piece that has an excellent fit and proved both useable and durable. Also have noted their covers on a variety of other craft and am always reassured by quality of design and fit. No connection other than as stated.
 
Comfort Afloat did the awnings on my last boat, good covers but let down by the installing fitter, who did a lousy job.

If you want excellent value and quality but a bit further away then SO31 Bags in Ensign Way Hamble. Did my Tonneau last year way below anyone else's price and the job is excellent.
 
Comfort Afloat did some cockpit cushions for me and made a very good job, they were £45 each compared to a quote of £1,228.5 by CJ Marine.
CJ Marine quoted similar insulting prices for spray hood, cockpit enclosure and stack pack altogether the quote was £6,245.34 and included a fitting charge of £260! The quote was in 07/08/12 so I imagine there prices have even gotten worse. To add insult to injury I did order an off the shelf stack pack from CJ Marine in 2013 only for it not to fit, despite an assurance to the contrary at the time they refused to take it back claiming I was outside there 7 day return period and claiming that the terms still stand as though they are some kind of law upon themselves. They also offered to make me up a new one that would fit at full cost (nice of them). The stack pack pack was poor quality it ripped at one of the poorly sewn seems. Master Covers and Tecsew have competitive quotes, good customer service and amazing looking products.
 
Coastal Covers and Tecsew are, I believe, both part of the Arun Sails group. Kemps are agents for CJ Marine and have an office in Gosport Marina. I had a bunk cushion replaced by Comfort Afloat; they did a very good job at a very nice price, but I have no experience of their cockpit enclosures.
 
I had a similar ''tems and conditions'' quoting experienc from CJ Marine - the term ''Too big to care'' springs to mind. Spare a thought for this poor chap on an earlier thread:

Be very careful of C & J
I have used C & J several times but on the last occasion wished I hadn't. On fitting a sprayhood they unfortunately damaged our boat. On asking them to fix the damage they simply quoted their terms and conditions which basically state that any damage they do is down to you to fix! So buyer beware... Needless to say we are now using someone else.
 
I'm surprised people go for these 'big' companies that are vat registered, my sailmaker isn't so I save 20% from the off.
I had a new main and mizzen made at Christmas, full battens, 3 reefs, 6.8oz dacron, total price £695 and yes, he does do a good job, he was an engineer in a previous existence so understands stresses, strains and wear points.
 
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LadyInBed said:
I'm surprised people go for these 'big' companies that are vat registered, my sailmaker isn't so I save 20% from the off.
I had a new main and mizzen made at Christmas, full battens, 3 reefs, 6.8oz dacron, total price £695 and yes, he does do a good job, he was an engineer in a previous existence so understands stresses, strains and wear points.
Click to expand...
No you only save VAT on his labour, he still pays VAT on what he buys in
 
P4Paul said:
I am surprised at this as I was under the impression that Tecsew is still 100% owned by the two directors?
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I can confirm as a director of Tecsew that we are wholly owned by the directors and not part of Arun Sails.
However we have worked with Arun Sails for many years supplying our canvas work through them, and have similar relationships with other companies.

Hope this helps clarify things.

Regards
John Bland
Tecsew Ltd
www.tecsew.com
 
We inherited a sprayhood, stackpack and full cockpit enclosure (the full thing with windows etc and attaches to the sprayhood) when we bought our boat. It is all made by Crystal Covers.

It has all been excellent.

I put the full cockpit enclosure up when hauled out in November and, despite the weather we have had, it is still there doing its job !!. I can barely believe it as I have not been able to get down to the boat over the winter otherwise I think I would have taken it down.

No connection at all with them but fairly impressed I still have it !
 
A word of caution. Be very specific with your wants and needs when you order your cockpit cover. I wasn't and ended up with a perfectly well constructed cover that didn't quite give full standing room. It would benefit from more window area and won't fold in situ for a quick day sail. It has to be completely removed. I have 12 studs screwed into my gel coat when I would have preferred different fastenings. I cannot blame the manufacturer but I am dissatisfied in practice and can't wait for it to wear out so I can order a replacement. I won't make the same mistake next time. Thanks. Alan
 
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