Cockpit Canopies

[Searush]

I have a centre cockpit ketch (W Pentland) and I need to replace my Sprayhood. Sooo, I am considering a full cockpit canopy. But at about £1500 it will HAVE to be right. Any one done this & got comments (good AND bad) please.

Concerns: Too high spoils forward vision & interferes with booms. Too low means crouching all the time & it can be hard to get past the wheel & mizzen (I have to stand on the cockpit seats). The rear sprayhood needs to be high enough to stand at the wheel - behind the mizzen but that will be higher than I want the forward sprayhood.

So what's your opinion? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[pvb]

If you just want a full canopy for use when moored, then a sprayhood plus an add-on extension would be feasible. However, your comment that "the rear sprayhood needs to be high enough to stand at the wheel" suggests you want to be able to sail/motor the boat with a full canopy, and (as a former Pentland owner) I'd say that this is not feasible. A good sprayhood plus a decent autopilot would help keep you fairly dry most of the time!

 

[Searush]

I must admit I was tending to think that - but my current Autohelm 3000 wheelpilot has developed a mind of its own! But a new one would be cheaper than a rear sprayhood. The other issue is that I have just "refurbished the aft cabin for No1 Grand-daughter & she needs to get to/from the loo in the main saloon when sitting out the showers at anchor.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

We have a full canopy that attaches to the back of the sprayhood, but it is just slightly too low to be comfortable when sailing, and i'd be somewhat concerned about the reduction in visibility.....

However.....

This weekend was a classic example of how it made the boat far far more useable..... while it poured down outside, we sat in the cockpit, with a paper, a good book, and a pot of decent coffee, and relaxed..... the same weekend, all forced down below would have been far less appealing.... i'd 100% definitely buy one with any future boat, but only for use at anchor/in marinas, rather than when sailing....

Observations from ours... make sure the sides and rear can be rolled up and out of the way.... it gets very very hot very very quickly when the sun pops out.... make sure the exits at the sides are very robust.... they get very heavily used..... make sure the top doesn't have too many areas where water can pool... it fills very quickly!.... make sure the poles dissassemble small enough to fit in a cockpit locker.....

HTH

 

[oleander2]

Just had a new one made for my Conway. Comfort Afloat in Gosport did it. Can not fault them on a thing. It is absolutelty marvellous. The service was second to none!

 

[Searush]

Thanks for the tips, I wasn't EXACTLY thinking of sailing with it up, but thought it might be usefull with sides rolled up for motoring into the sort of stuff we have had today!