Carbon Battens In New Canopy

[Tredders01]

After lurking in here for a few years and finding everything I have needed in the threads, the time has come for my first post. I bought a 2005 targa 43 this time last year and it's been well used and cared for in the last year. The canopy will probably do another year, but after gazing across the hammerhead to a Targa 50 for the last 12 months, I am wondering if I can 'ballon' the back of the canopy using the same method of Carbon rods.

Has anyone else done this, or thought of doing this on any model? several canapy makers say it can be done, but they haven't done it before, this was followed by a sharp intake of breath, a sucking of teeth and a it will cost you comment.

It will actually buy a large amount of space on the Sunpad, so I can justify it, as in the barmy summer months of the south Coast of England, this occasionally gets slept on by some of my more crazy friends.

Best image I could find was here (although it doesn't look the best in this shot):
http://eby.rightboatexpert.com/api/images/84879/1010x1010

Any thoughts welcome.

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Welcome to the forum. Never seen this done, although I've seen the arrangement you're talking about on a few T50's. The more conventional way to extend the cockpit roofline using the canopy is with some conventional stainless framing, same as for the bimini section of the cover, I've seen this done several times, although admittedly not on a T43.

Depending on where you are, I'd talk to Jim Bowman at JB Yacht Services, this sort of thing is right up his street. A replacement camper canvas for your T43 is going to be c.£2k as standard anyway, so how much more can it be to incorporate your proposed extension?

 

[Tredders01]

Thanks for welcome and the advice, JB Yacht Services is not too far away, so thanks for the tip. The advice I have been given was to make a S/Steel frame, however I the lines on the T43 with the covers off are special and I think this will detract from them, hence this option. In terms of cost, nothing finite back in yet, but I'm led to believe it will be a lot more (double) than the standard 2k set, makes it a little indulgent!

 

[Garold]

+1 for JBYS.

He does bespoke and seems interested in 'interesting projects'. And your carbon fibre would be 'interesting'.

Garold

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Thanks for welcome and the advice, JB Yacht Services is not too far away, so thanks for the tip. The advice I have been given was to make a S/Steel frame, however I the lines on the T43 with the covers off are special and I think this will detract from them, hence this option. In terms of cost, nothing finite back in yet, but I'm led to believe it will be a lot more (double) than the standard 2k set, makes it a little indulgent!

I don't know how the rods are fixed on the T50 - try a pm to EME, he has one. It seems to be though that if you source the rods, and sort out the fixings to the boat, then the actual making of the cover should be straightforward. One other option to try would be the OE supplier of the covers to Fairline; this was probably Flexicovers, and they are v helpful on the phone.

 

[Tranona]

Also worth talking to John Bland of Tecsew in Gosport. He uses CAD to design custom canopies etc such as you are looking for and their work is very high quality, both fit and materials.

 

[Greg2]

Sealine S41/42/43 hardtop versions have a similar arrangement. We came close to buying one and if memory serves it is not a complicated system. The rods just slot in to holes/fittings at each end and can easily be removed and stored in a bespoke tube/locker in the GRP roof on the Sealines. I guess getting rods the right length will be key to ensure sufficient tension and the right shape for the canopy.

 

[TK Blue MAX]

we've done something similar on our Targa 52 ,flexicovers did ours, transformed the usable space over the sunpad and made reaching the bottom of the zips a lot easier, there is a photo of one on there website under Fairline Targa GT rear camper cover, nicely made ss frame and fittings ,photo pretty poor but speak to David,he sent us some better photos .

 

[Tredders01]

All good advice thanks, as greg2 says the rods slot into stainless holders on the radar arch and tender garage, the issue is the shape of the cover to fit, this and time spent on the boat to get the shape right not in the workshop (although cad would minimise this). However if it's been done before on a T52 and it worked well then, I'll have a chat with the various companies mentioned and keep going!