Droopy CJ Marine Sprayhood - advice?

MagicalArmchair

MagicalArmchair

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I purchased my CJ marine sprayhood at considerable cost in 2013s Southampton boatshow with promises that it would be an easy DIY fit - two years later I have finally stopped going sailing for five minutes to fit it, predictably, there is a problem.

When pulled back tight, the front is slightly droopy - the photo below doesn't change much when I put all my weight behind it.

NMU9Toil.jpg


6jRNapMl.jpg


isudGN6l.jpg


CJ (who I hold in high regard) insist that pulling it back tight and pulling down hard on the side bullet fixings will sort it out and tension it up nicely. Should I just pull harder? Leave it up and hope it stretches out? Or just live with a baggy sprayhood and hope it stretches out over time?

CJ offered to come and take a look at how I've fitted it and offer first hand advice at the cost of £650 (with the proviso if the sprayhood is cut wrong, that would be refunded and they would fix the sprayhood), which I did resent somewhat and I didn't want to risk on account that I might have ballsed up the install... anyone had similar droopy problems...?
 
yep me to with a cockpit tent fitted as instructed but looks sh**t I don't put it up much it upsets me as it cost over 1 boat unit to purchase
boat unit = £1000.00
had another company look at and they wanted another boat unit to remake and to fit properly
 
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Doesn't look like any amount of tensioning is going to pull the front of that tight to me - but without a good picture of the sides it's hard to say. Any chance you got those foot positions a little out? Too far aft perhaps?

I've had some bad experiences with Sprayhoods, though not CJ. I would never get one online again. A local with a good rep for me from now on for these. My old Hurley had the best fitting sprayhood I've ever seen made up for it. was just beautiful. Low risk for me - it was up to him to measure, make and fit. And not for much more money than a CJ one would have been.

When the time comes will do the same for the Hunter.
 
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Interesting Yachtailsa, I tried moving the feet back to see if it helped (a gaffa tape special), and that made no effect on it, I didn't try moving it forward. I'll try that when I am down tomorrow. And hairbox, I feel your pain, the limp lifeless hood has stayed fastened down for now as I don't want to get it set into the wrong 'shape' - I'll have a fiddle tomorrow (so long as its not blowing a gale!)
 
Sorry, but I really cannot see that ever fitting well. I reckon they have made it to the wrong dimensions, or it's for a different boat. You cannot beat a good canvas guy coming out and fitting it properly - JB in the Hamble is amongst the best by the way (no connection)
 
oldhunter, it certainly can be slid up and down, I'll try that one too. Thanks for all the suggestions. And yes, I feel a little mugged right now, however, the build quality of the thing is amazing... just it doesn't flipping fit. Lets hope its me being ham fisted, I'll try those suggestions and report back. :(
 
Another vote for adjusting the position of the hinge between the tubes, if you slide it up a bit then it may tension up the front.

Have to say we're not hugely impressed with our C J Marine sprayhood either. It's not terrible, but there are a number of annoying aspects that could have been avoided with a little more care.

Pete
 
It looks as if the aft tube need to be pivoted back, taking the forward tube with it, pivoting on the coachroof hinge. This will tension the front and maintain the tension in the top canvas.
To allow this, the "lift-the-dot" fasteners appear to need to be re-positioned, and perhaps any webbing straps that provide tension. Did you position these yourself?
I suggest that you unfasten them and see if the sag can be removed by pulling on the canvas sidepieces.
Hope this helps.
 
oldhunter said:
Where the two hoops join can the hinge be moved up the tube? it can on mine. If you slide the hinge up the tube it might be possible to tension the canopy
Click to expand...
On mine the exact height at which the hoops join is adjustable by clamps, and quite critical in getting shape right. It's by CJ Marine and approaching 10 years old, though with new windows and some stitching/zip repairs.
 
MagicalArmchair said:
I purchased my CJ marine sprayhood at considerable cost in 2013s Southampton boatshow with promises that it would be an easy DIY fit - two years later I have finally stopped going sailing for five minutes to fit it, predictably, there is a problem.

When pulled back tight, the front is slightly droopy - the photo below doesn't change much when I put all my weight behind it.

NMU9Toil.jpg


6jRNapMl.jpg


isudGN6l.jpg


CJ (who I hold in high regard) insist that pulling it back tight and pulling down hard on the side bullet fixings will sort it out and tension it up nicely. Should I just pull harder? Leave it up and hope it stretches out? Or just live with a baggy sprayhood and hope it stretches out over time?

CJ offered to come and take a look at how I've fitted it and offer first hand advice at the cost of £650 (with the proviso if the sprayhood is cut wrong, that would be refunded and they would fix the sprayhood), which I did resent somewhat and I didn't want to risk on account that I might have ballsed up the install... anyone had similar droopy problems...?
Click to expand...

I think I would loosen the 'forward hoop' and slide it up and see the result.

Worth a try??

Tony.
 
Jabs said:
I think I would loosen the 'forward hoop' and slide it up and see the result.
Click to expand...

I think most of us are agreed on that.

The reason the OP hasn't tried it might be because the C J instructions (at least the ones supplied with our hood) state that the relative positions of the hoops have been carefully set at the factory and should not be altered. In our case this proved not to be the case at all, and the hoops fitted the hood much better when we adjusted the joint position. However, because I'd originally been trying to make it fit without doing so, some of the lift-the-dot studs ended up in slightly the wrong places and remain awkward to use each time we raise and lower the hood :(

Pete
 
Just repeating what others have said, the front tube needs to be pushing up/forward a bit. Sliding the tube up a bit may fix it if the adjustment is not too much. Alternative may be it needs a slightly longer front tube. Can you take one end out of the end fitting and push it forward. That may well take up the slack and show how much is required.
 
Where the two SS tubes join the hinge can be adjusted if you slide the hinge up the tube it should raise height of clear sections and may add some tension to the front of sprayhood

This could help a little and is quick and easy to try.
 
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