Flybridge canopy help please

[RIN]

We got to the boat on Sunday for the first time in nearly 3 months and the poles holding up the flybridge canopy had collapsed resulting in a swimming pool on the flybridge.

Not sure if it was wind getting under the canopy and that blew the canopy off the poles or whether the poles just slipped over somehow or the adjusting screws gave way.

It certainly must have rained a lot recently.

Anyone else had this problem? Any advice on how to make sure the poles stay put holding up the canopy? Or where I get replacement poles?

Thanks in advance for any advice

 

[P4Paul]

could you use a cheap camera tripod instead of poles to hold up the canvas? I would have though a tripod would have a better chance at remaining stood up even if the canvas started flapping due to wind getting beneath it.

 

[volvopaul]

Mine was the same that's why I want a hardtop boat .

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I once had a boat which came with a flybridge canopy which had a drain hole at its lowest point with a hose to drain the water overboard. My current boat has a canopy with tensioning straps on the sides which can be used to make the canopy as rigid as possible to stop water pooling but it doesn't work that well. The problem as you well know is that once water starts to pool its just going to de-tension the canopy and the problem just gets worse. IMHO a drain hole or two is the best solution

 

[rafiki_]

I have 2 poles supporting the fly tonneau, which are monopods, hence held by the tension of the canopy. It is open at one end, but there is sufficient tension to hold the poles in place, and prevent pooling. New poles can be bought from Force $ or any canopy maker.

 

[Momac]

Would this help?
http://www.seabridge-marine.com/Boat-Vent_2/p2023673_11041970.aspx

.

 

[RIN]

Would this help?
http://www.seabridge-marine.com/Boat-Vent_2/p2023673_11041970.aspx

.

That's not a bad idea. I just need to make something so the canopy cannot rise over the spike on the pole, then have a way of stopping the bottom of the pole being moved. It doesn't need to be sophisticated

 

[Momac]

That's not a bad idea. I just need to make something so the canopy cannot rise over the spike on the pole, then have a way of stopping the bottom of the pole being moved. It doesn't need to be sophisticated

Unless I am misunderstanding it the boat vent clamps to the pole - so if the wind lifts the canvas the pole lifts with it ?

 

[RIN]

Guide ropes? Some sort of socket resting on a non slip mat? Not really sure but its worth trying something

 

[Andrew M]

I've had exactly the same issue with our flybridge tonneau. we have 3 poles that support the tonneau along its fore/aft centreline. I have solved this recently, and it has been a 100% completely successful solution since I came up with it about 6 weeks ago so it has survived some really strong winds that would have previously moved the poles so they fell out of place allowing the tonneau to "pool" with water and then rip under the strain. The solution was to buy 6 x rectangular plastic trays from the 99pStore in Lymington high street, the trays have an unusual 1"square grid on both top and bottom of non slip rubber. I drilled a maybe 4mm hole in the centre of three of them, for the locating peg on top of the support poles to go through, then used 1 (without the hole) to stand the pole base on so that doesn't slip or shuffle about on the teak and placed the other with a hole in it on top of the pole and put the pole top through the tonneau as it's meant to do. repeated for the other 2 poles and was quite chuffed with how the top tray spreads the load on the tonneau and also that the support is rock solid and not moving at all. No adjustment necessary on subsequent visits so it appears to be a permanent solution.
Sorry don't have any photos of the set up but will get some, if it would help, on my next visit.
Andy

 

[RIN]

I've had exactly the same issue with our flybridge tonneau. we have 3 poles that support the tonneau along its fore/aft centreline. I have solved this recently, and it has been a 100% completely successful solution since I came up with it about 6 weeks ago so it has survived some really strong winds that would have previously moved the poles so they fell out of place allowing the tonneau to "pool" with water and then rip under the strain. The solution was to buy 6 x rectangular plastic trays from the 99pStore in Lymington high street, the trays have an unusual 1"square grid on both top and bottom of non slip rubber. I drilled a maybe 4mm hole in the centre of three of them, for the locating peg on top of the support poles to go through, then used 1 (without the hole) to stand the pole base on so that doesn't slip or shuffle about on the teak and placed the other with a hole in it on top of the pole and put the pole top through the tonneau as it's meant to do. repeated for the other 2 poles and was quite chuffed with how the top tray spreads the load on the tonneau and also that the support is rock solid and not moving at all. No adjustment necessary on subsequent visits so it appears to be a permanent solution.
Sorry don't have any photos of the set up but will get some, if it would help, on my next visit.
Andy

Thank you Andy, I think this is worth trying. I'll let you know how I get on
Richard

 

[Andrew M]

Yep, if what you're trying to achieve is the same as I was trying to sort , then that should work a treat, spreads the load on the tonneau, supports it better , doesn't move etc etc.

Here's an eBay version of what I bought, but the 99p Store ones have the non slip rubber moulded as a 1" mesh across both top and bottom surfaces.